FRISCO, TEXAS – With the first rookie minicamp as Dallas Cowboys under their belts, Michael Gallup and Dalton Schultz opened up about the transition from college to the pro level. With the 81st pick in the third round (Gallup) and the 137th pick in the fourth round (Schultz), their dreams of playing in the NFL came true, and now these two rookies are back to the beginning as they fight for a starting position and prove their ability at the elite level.
Gallup remarked on the drive that has brought him to this successful mark in his career “ it comes from coming from the mountain-west. A lot of people do not really believe in the mountain-west and the players that come out of there. Just coming into the Cowboys, I definitely want to go to work for them. You can go to a store in Georgia and find some Cowboy stuff. It is a big deal.” Gallup understands the meaning behind the Star, and he is willing to work hard in order to make his mark with the franchise, their offensive scheme, and their passing game. His goal during mini-camp is to absorb as much knowledge as he can, to increase his chances of making it onto the field come fall.
Coming into his new home in Dallas, Schultz has already become familiar with the Cowboys’ running game by watching film of former tight end, Jason Witten. Schultz confided “ I have been studying a lot of Witten film over the years. I know what the Cowboys do and I know their run game. Their running game is very complimentary to what I have done at Stanford. “
With a gap in the Cowboys’ leadership with Witten gone and a void that needs to be filled at the tight end position, in his absence Schultz has the opportunity before him to mend the hole in the Cowboys offensive line left by one of his role models in the NFL. All the years of studying Witten will help ease the transition to the Cowboys playbook. With a promising and hopeful future ahead, Schultz could be on the field for the ‘silver and blue’ in his favorite position “working the middle of the field” blocking defenders for his team.
