HOFer compares Cowboys rookie RB to former Pro Bowler

Deuce Vaughn (22) Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Hall of Fame RB compares Cowboys rookie to former Pro Bowler

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 5/4/23

Cowboys sixth-round draft pick Deuce Vaughn is only 5-foot-5 and 179 pounds, but Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson believes he's the spitting image of another undersized Kansas State RB.

"I think Deuce can be matchup nightmare coming out of the backfield," Tomlinson recently said on NFL Network's "Total Access." "A lot of people are comparing him to Darren Sproles, who was one of the best ever to come out of the backfield running routes, creating mismatches. I see Vaughn in the same light."

The @dallascowboys’ newest RB: Deuce Vaughn!

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The comparison to Sproles, Tomlinson's backfield partner in San Diego from 2005 to 2009, is tremendous praise.

Despite his small size (5-foot-6, 190 pounds), he had an excellent career, making three Pro Bowls, winning Super Bowl XLIV and earning HOF All-2010s team honors over 14 seasons.

It could be an astute comparison, too. In three seasons at Kansas State, Vaughn recorded the second-most rushing yards (3,604) in school history and the second-most yards from scrimmage (4,884). Both marks are just behind Sproles.

Vaughn's role in the Dallas backfield remains unclear. Pro Bowl RB Tony Pollard is the feature back, and it appears Malik Davis and Ronald Jones II will vie for RB2.

Nonetheless, Cowboys vice president of personnel Will McClay believes he's a valuable asset.

"Getting him and adding him as a weapon was a huge deal," he told KRLD-FM in Dallas on Tuesday.

Also, some encouragement from Sproles should help Vaughn. Per the Dallas Morning News' Joseph Hoyt, Sproles texted Vaughn "to keep the short back alive" after Dallas drafted him.

Perhaps the 21-year-old will fulfill the request and become the league's next undersized back with an enormous offensive punch.

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