Deuce Vaughn won’t have to look far for a familiar face with his new team, the Dallas Cowboys.
On Saturday, Dallas took running Vaughn – who measured at 5-foot-5 at the combine –with the 35th pick of the sixth round (No. 212 overall) in the 2023 NFL draft.
Vaughn’s father, Chris, is currently the assistant director of college scouting for the team. After the choice, cameras showed Chris Vaughn hugging Cowboys COO and executive vice president Stephen Jones and owner/general manager Jerry Jones.
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said Vaughn removed himself from the Cowboys’ draft room during their deliberations of his son.
“If you ignore the size, just watch the watch the tape,” Jeremiah said.
NFL Draft Hub: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis
Vaughn is the shortest player measured at the combine or selected in the draft since 2003, when data began being tracked.
A unanimous All-American in 2022, Vaughn scored nine touchdowns his freshman year and racked up 1,076 yards. He had 18 rushing touchdowns the following season and averaged 6.0 yards per carry on 1,404 total rushing yards and 49 catches for 468 yards.
Vaughn helped Kansas State to a Big 12 title in 2022, with 1,558 rushing yards (5.3 yards per carry) and 42 receptions for 378 yards (12 total touchdowns).
Prior to his time scouting for the Cowboys, Chris Vaughn was an assistant coach at the collegiate level, with stops at Arkansas, Ole Miss, Memphis and Texas.
There have been no shortage of slight-statured players making significant impacts in league history, including receiver Wes Welker (5-foot-8) and running backs Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren Sproles, both of whom were listed at 5-foot-6.
At his pro day, Vaughn fielded punts and caught kickoffs to give teams an idea of his capabilities in the return game.
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.
