San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Ferguson pick in fourth adds depth at TE
FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys used their fourth-round pick to add a little more depth behind the recently franchised Dalton Schultz.
With the 129th overall pick, Dallas selected Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson on Saturday.
A source told the Dallas Morning News that Ferguson has the potential to be “an all-around TE.”
In four seasons at Wisconsin, Ferguson racked up 1,618 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was an All-Big Ten selection last year after posting 450 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
At the NFL scouting combine, Ferguson measured in at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds. He ran a 4.81 in the 40-yard dash.
Ferguson said he “would like to get up a little bit higher while keeping my speed.”
North Dakota OT helps bolster line
With the first of their four fifth-round selections, the Cowboys opted to add more depth to their offensive line.
Dallas selected North Dakota offensive tackle Matt Waletzko with the 155th pick, one they acquired in the trade that sent star receiver Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns.
Waletzko started 10 games at left tackle for North Dakota last season before an injury kept him out of the final game of the season. In the games he played, Waletzko was a part of an offensive line that allowed just three sacks all season, a mark that led the NCAA.
Waletzko measured in at 6-8, 312 pounds at the NFL scouting combine.
Fresno State’s Bland left feeling ‘surreal’
With the 167th pick in the fifth round, the Cowboys selected Fresno State cornerback DaRon Bland.
“It’s just really a surreal moment. I can’t put this into words,” Bland said. “I can’t really say.”
Bland played one season at Fresno State after three seasons at Sacramento State, where he not only played football but ran track as well.
He was one of the 30 college players to visit The Star during the draft process. Bland also visited with Denver, Indianapolis, Green Bay, New York Jets, Miami and San Francisco.
Cornerback became a position of need for the Cowboys in light of the situation with 2021 second-round pick Kelvin Joseph.
In his lone season at Fresno State last year, Bland had 45 tackles, two interceptions, five passes defended and a forced fumble in 13 games.
Cowboys officials like Bland’s ability to press coverage and his ball skills.
For Bland this was an emotional time because he wanted his uncle, Louis Bland, to be apart of the moment but he passed away in September.
“This is everything, especially since my uncle is not here,” he said. “That’s the one person I dedicate this journey to. It’s a lot.”
LSU’s Clark joins mix at linebacker
The Cowboys selected LSU linebacker Damone Clark with the 176th pick in the fifth round.
Clark averaged 11 tackles per game last season, a mark that ranked second in the nation. In four seasons at LSU, Clark racked up 249 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, four passes defended, a fumble recovery and an interception.
Last season, Clark set career-highs in sacks (5½), tackles for loss (15.5) and total tackles (135).
Clark was assigned jersey No. 18 at LSU, a number rewarded to the player whose character best represents the university.
Arkansas player picked for D-line
Of course, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones got himself an Arkansas guy.
With the 178th pick in the fifth round, Dallas selected Arkansas defensive tackle John Ridgeway.
In his lone season at Arkansas, Ridgeway had 39 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks in 11 games played.
Before playing his senior season for the Razorbacks, Ridgeway played from 2017-21 at Illinois State.
He tied for the team lead with 22 tackles over four games during Illinois State’s 2021 season, which was played in the spring because of COVID-19.
Ridgeway is already familiar with AT&T Stadium in Arlington, as Arkansas defeated Texas A&M 20-10 in the Cowboys’ home on Sept. 25, 2021.
OSU LB Harper becomes final pick
With their final pick of the draft as of press time Saturday, the Cowboys stuck to the Day 3 trend of adding defensive players.
Dallas selected Oklahoma State linebacker Devin Harper with the 193rd pick in the sixth round.
Over five seasons at Oklahoma State, Harper had 215 total tackles, 26½ tackles for loss, 13½ sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Last season, he set career highs in total tackles (95), tackles for loss (11) and sacks (six).