The grandson of a former Super Bowl-winning Cowboys coach is attending this year's early offseason program.
Dallas Cowboys minicamp is underway at The Star, and among the returners trickling back into the building after the offseason and the rookie draftees getting their first taste of NFL action, there are a few other newcomers, too, hoping to make the most of an opportunity.
Among those undrafted free agents competing for a roster spot at minicamp is the grandson of a Super Bowl-winning Cowboys coach.
Zach Switzer, grandson of Barry, is working out with the team. The 5-11, 195-pound running back prospect from Presbyterian College in the FCS rushed for 779 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He added 316 receiving yards and four touchdown catches for the Blue Hose in the Pioneer League.
This week, he showed appreciation to his grandfather for connecting him to the Cowboys and getting him on the practice field.
Zach said Barry, the leader of the Cowboys' most-recent championship at Super Bowl XXX title in 1996, reached out to the team's scouting department to give his grandson a shot.
"He did not have to do that," Switzer said to the team's website. "But I'm super grateful, super honored, and super blessed to have the opportunity to do something like this and achieve one of my dreams."
This week's minicamp is an introduction to the playbook and a chance for the newcomers to showcase their traits to NFL personnel, assessing where they need to improve for the long season ahead.
Switzer, who spent time at Memphis before transferring to Presbyterian and being named the conference's top kick returner, detailed how the practices have been going.
"You have to go 100 percent on every single rep you get," he said. "Take advantage of every opportunity to get on the field - whether that's special teams, running back drills, or walkthroughs - knowing every play. It's really just about putting your best foot forward and understanding what you can do."
Switzer knows he's behind the sticks when it comes to landing a roster spot, but he hopes to embrace the opportunity any way he can.
"I'm very confident in who I am and my ability on the field," Switzer added. "But I'll leave that up to the coaches to make decisions on my ability to play. Whatever I think doesn't really matter, because it's up to them completely.
"It's pretty unbelievable. I don't think I've sat down and taken it all in yet, because we have so much going on. I'm really trying to prove myself and make it out here. I'm putting my best foot forward on the playbook and the plays, everything like that...
"I'm just really appreciative of the opportunity."
The Cowboys are set at the top of their running back depth chart with Javonte Williams signing a three-year extension to remain with the team following last year's career-high in yards. Behind him, a pair of former rookies (Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah) will battle for snaps, unless Dallas adds a veteran in free agency.
