Dallas Cowboys Select Chris Vaughn’s Son, Deuce, in the Sixth Round of NFL Draft

The Dallas Cowboys made a unique pick in the sixth round of the NFL draft, selecting Deuce Vaughn, a running back out of Kansas State, at No. 212 overall. What made the pick unique was that Deuce’s father, Chris Vaughn, was in the team’s draft room as Dallas’ assistant director of college scouting. Chris was given the privilege of calling his son with the news of his selection. It was an emotional moment for both father and son, as Chris asked, “Do you want to come to work with me next week?” and Deuce responded, “I wouldn’t mind that at all.”

Chris Vaughn has worked for the Cowboys since 2017, and he did not write a report on his son before the draft. He did not want to influence the team’s direction in any way. However, when Deuce was not selected in the earlier rounds, Chris put aside his role as a scout and became a father, pumping up his son. When Chris returned to the draft room, Jerry Jones, Mike McCarthy, Stephen Jones, and Will McClay had already decided to select Deuce. It was an emotional moment for everyone involved.

Size Doesn’t Matter

Deuce Vaughn may be small, but he is a dynamic player. At 5-foot-5, 179 pounds, his size was a deterrent for some teams, but not for the Cowboys. In three years at Kansas State, Deuce rushed for 3,604 yards and 34 touchdowns and had 1,280 yards receiving. In 2022, he led the FBS in all-purpose yards with 1,936, including 133 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

The Cowboys have a crowded backfield with Tony Pollard, Ronald Jones, Malik Davis, and Rico Dowdle, but Deuce can play the normal flow of their offense on first and second down. McCarthy also has some situational thoughts and concepts in mind. He sees similarities between Deuce and Randall Cobb, whom he has coached in the past. Deuce’s ability to make plays in a variety of ways is what caught the Cowboys’ attention.

For Chris Vaughn, the phone call to his son was the best call he ever made. He knows that Deuce is the hardest worker he knows, and he expects him to do well in the NFL. The Cowboys value family, and they see Deuce as part of their family now. It was a special moment for everyone involved, and one they will never forget.