June 7 2023
https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/cowboys-top-3-standouts-at-minicamp-day-1-insider-notebook-jabril-cox

....

THE THREE STARS - On offense, it's a
guy just popping up on the radar, 7th-
round rookie receiver Jalen Brooks. On
defense, it's the (fully-rehabbed?) line-
backer Jabril Cox.

& on special teams? Some credit to the
semi-overlooked Tristan Vizcaino.

.... Tyron Smith working at left tackle this
week with Tyler Smith lining up at guard.
Matt Waletzko got much of the work at
right tackle.

.... TE Peyton Hendershot was in rhythm
as a Dak Prescott red-zone target. Not
involved, though, was rookie TE Luke
Schoonmaker. He is out of the walking
boot while dealing with plantar fascia
issue but is expected to be ready for
training camp.

.... One cannot help but notice the speed
with which Brandin Cooks does ... every-
thing. No wasted movement, all rapid
movement. And on this day, also notice-
able was South Carolina product Jalen ...

.... Brooks, sort of forgotten in all the at-
tention given the stars at the top of the
depth chart & all of the competition at
the second level led by Jalen Tolbert.
.... Brooks made at least two plays that
were eye-catchers, including a TD catch.

.... DEFENSIVE LINE - Johnathan Hankins
vs. Mazi Smith vs. Quinton Bohanna?

.... on this day, the veteran Hankins was
the starter while the trio actually got a
chance to line up together in a goal-line
package.

.... How often does a linebacker get to sim-
ulate live action in a minicamp and get to
record a pass breakup in a goal-line stand?
It happened once for Jabril Cox on 3rd down
.... & then he did it again on 4th down.

.... While the Cowboys are working ... a plan
to add a kicker, Tristan Vizcaino did his thing.
He was 8-for-8 on field goals ... .

Sidenote: Cowboys 3rd round 2021 WR draft
pick Jalen Tolbert explains why he struggled
as a rookie (June 6 2023):
https://bolavip.com/en/nfl/cowboys-jalen-tolbert-explains-why-he-struggled-as-a-rookie-20230607-BUS-6909.html

“I was thinking a lot more than I should be
thinking. Instead of just going out there &
being myself.

Speed is a strong point of mine, so being
able to go out there & threaten vertically
with my speed & selling routes. Sometimes
I was timid running routes & wasn’t really
myself in a way.”

Comment: Too much thinking? Hmmmm.
Perhaps this year he'll think “just right, not
too much, not too little.”

--- --- ---