Roderick McLean       

The Dynamic Duo

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 Being a professional athlete could be over-whelming and time consuming. It’s never easy going from playing a college sport to playing professional.  So far, Dallas Cowboys’ rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott have had no problems making that transition.

 Who would have ever thought that the Cowboys would be 5-1 and in first place in the NFC East division looking like a Super Bowl team without star quarterback Tony Romo, who has yet to take a snap this season as he recovers from yet another significant injury, and wide receiver Dez Bryant not playing up to his potential due to his own injuries. “America’s Team” has need players to step up in a big way on the offensive end and that’s where these two young incredible athletes came into the picture.

Dak Prescott is a 6’2”, 226 lbs. quarterback and was drafted 135th overall in the fourth round from Mississippi State. So far this season Prescott has a passing rating of 103.9. Prescott has completed 68.7 percent of his passes and has thrown for 1,486 passing yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. The lone pick came in the team’s 30-16 win over the Green Bay Packers but prior to that game, Prescott broke the record for most passes to start a career with no interception. The previous record holder? Tom Brady. Needless to say, Prescott is off to one of the best quarterback starts in NFL history.

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Ezekiel Elliott is a 6’0”, 2251bs. running back and was Dallas’ 1st round, fourth overall pick of this past draft. The former Ohio State Buckeye already has 703 rushing yards off 137 carries and five touchdowns. He is also averaging 5.1 yards per carry. With only six games of his rookie season, people are talking about him beating Eric Dickerson’s rookie record of 1,808 yards in 1983 with the Los Angeles Rams. But Elliott is not worried about the record. “So you guys made that story, but it’s honestly not something I’m very focused on. I’m focused on going out and winning ballgames. Focused on getting better with the team every week,” said Elliott to Fort Worth Star-Telgram reporter Drew Davison on October 12. Clearly, he has one thing on his mind, and that’s winning.

These two have great chemistry on and off the field. Their roommates when the team stays at hotels before games. “They do everything together. They’re always together,” running back Alfred Morris said, via the Dallas Morning News on October 16.  Prescott and Elliott have been close ever since they got drafted and showed up to rookie minicamp. Prescott recently told the media that Elliott is “like a brother. We hang out often off the field and a lot in the locker room.” It’s rare for a quarterback to have great connection with their starting running back right away.  This connection is showing on the gridiron every week.

Unfortunately, we can’t see these two rookies play this week since the Cowboys got a bye week, but their next outing will be on October 30th against the Eagles in Dallas. Every division game is important; and this one is no different and you better believe the home crowd is going to be screaming Prescott and Elliott’s names. The Cowboys have a tough situation to make before this game. Tony Romo is healthy to play that week. What will Dallas Cowboys do?  Will they stick with the formula that have been working or will they put the franchise quarterback in? What we do know is that this dynamic duo will have a great career when it’s all said and done.