Cowboys EXCLUSIVE: 'Cerebral' Jaydon Blue Off To Electric Start At Camp

OXNARD, Calif. - Jaydon Blue's rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys left a lot to be desired - and the second-year speedster from the University of Texas is the first to concede that.

With the Texas Longhorns in 2024, Blue was electric in both the run and pass game for coach Steve Sarkisian.

But as a fifth-round rookie, Blue's shortcomings were exposed, and both he and coach Brian Schottenheimer have recently talked of "maturity'' being an issue.

In the opening days of Cowboys training camp here in Oxnard, however, Blue has shown explosiveness with a series of breakaway runs.

"Anytime I get in the open field, or any other time, one-on-one with anybody,'' told me in our exclusive interview following a recent practice. "my mindset is to win.

"But once I get in the open field, I don't think there's anybody in this league who can keep up.''

I reported some time ago about the coaching staff's vision for this backfield: Javonte Williams is the bell cow, the full-time starter ... and Blue is well-suited to be his caddie in what was termed to me to be a "Thunder and Lightning'' setup.

I broached the idea of that slogan to Blue. He is clearly familiar with it.

"I'm really just trying to do my own thing,'' he said. "Me, Javonte, Phil, we're all different backs. But they do want me to be part of that 'Thunder and Lightning,' they want me to be that back who complements (Javonte).''

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer clearly believes in the young rusher, recently praising him for his "high football IQ.''

I mentioned that to Blue, and he reflected on the scouting report with pride.

"I'm a smart football player,'' he said. "I'm a very cerebral guy when it comes to football.''

Again, nothing is being handed to Blue here after a rookie season that frustrated some of his critics - even a few of them from inside The Star. Former Clemson back Phil Mafah is competing with Blue for the RB2 spot, as is Malik Davis, who came on strong during the season to fill the spot on occasion.

"I'm excited about it," Schottenheimer said about the competition.

And on Blue individually?

"Jaydon Blue is a guy we've talked about since the minute he stepped on campus," Schotty said.

The coach mentioned how new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, remembered being worried about Blue's skillset before Dallas' Week 1 game in Philly.

Said Schottenheimer: "That shows you that he's a guy that we need to (have) take the next step. I think he's going to do that. He understands his role, but he's exciting."

During Wednesday's practice, Mafah fumbled the ball and was immediately subbed out for Blue. And as I wrote in reflection ...

"On the next play, Jaydon Blue goes in after the fumble and sprints 45 yards for a real-life (practice) touchdown."

Speed kills, of course. Blue knows it. And maybe all of the "anybody's'' in the NFL are about to find that out.