The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
DeMarvion Overshown drafted by Dallas Cowboys
04.28.2023 | Football
Texas LB DeMarvion Overshown was selected in the third round with the 90th overall pick.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 90th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday.
With Overshown's selection, it marks the sixth time in the last 12 NFL Drafts that a Texas linebacker has been selected and the 26th time overall.
Overshown is the 12th Texas player drafted by the Cowboys in program history and the first since offensive lineman Connor Williams was picked in the second round of the 2018 draft. He will join former Longhorn LB Malik Jefferson on the current roster.
"DeMarvion's a guy that moved from safety to linebacker and made so many big plays for us," said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. "He's a guy that put in the work and his teammates rallied around, too. Demo is really active, very instinctive, and an aggressive and physical football player. Not only is he really good on defense, he's excellent on special teams, and I think he's continuing to grow as a linebacker. He did great things for us, but I believe his best days are ahead of him. The Dallas Cowboys are so lucky to have him.
"DeMarvion has always been a Cowboy at heart, and it's so cool that he'll be playing right up the road in Dallas, not far from where he grew up. He's a Texan through and through, and we're thrilled he'll be continuing to play ball in our great state."
Overshown played five seasons on the Forty Acres, playing in 50 games with 33 starts. He moved from safety to linebacker following his sophomore season in 2019, on his way to becoming a two-time Butkus Award semifinalist (2021, 2022). Overshown completed his Longhorn career with 249 tackles (136 solo), 30.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He had three career interceptions, 17 passes defended, three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and blocked a punt in the 2021 Red River Showdown against Oklahoma.
In 2022, he earned All-Big 12 First Team accolades from the conference's coaches and the AP after establishing career bests with 96 tackles (49 solo), 10 tackles for loss and four sacks while adding two quarterback hurries and five pass breakups. He registered at least five tackles in 11 of 12 games, averaging 8.0 tackles per game, and recorded double-digit tackles three times, including a career-high 14 against Baylor in the regular-season finale, his final game as a Longhorn.
An honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2020 and 2021, the Arp, Texas native was the Defensive MVP of the 2020 Valero Alamo Bowl after tallying six tackles (four solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries in Texas' victory over Colorado.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
On being drafted by the Cowboys:
"It was surreal. As soon as I got the call and I saw it said, 'The Star,' I went crazy and I ran out of the room, but it's a moment I'll never forget. The looks I saw on family's faces, the tears that instantly came out from them, and mine, I'm not going to lie, I had some tears, but people kept asking me how I was going to feel after I heard my name called, but it was one of those feelings that you don't get until it happens. I couldn't stop yelling, I heard Jerry Jones on the phone, and I'm screaming, 'Let's go,' while he's trying to talk to me. It's surreal, but I'm ready. They told me I have 12 days, but I'm ready to get there now."
On if he was a Cowboys fan growing up:
"To be honest, I wasn't. I grew up around a lot of Cowboy fans, but I was always the knucklehead that went against everybody, so I didn't, but I told people all the time that if I ever had a chance to play for anybody, it would be Dallas. They're the hometown team for me, and I know how much my family's going to travel to and from Dallas, especially with it being even closer to them than Austin. They were willing to drive anywhere for Texas Football games, but I know for my family this is huge, for me it's huge, and it's one of those moments that I'll never take for granted hearing my name called."
On the phone call from the Cowboys:
"At first it just started off, 'Hey DeMarvion, how are you doing? It's Jerry with the Cowboys.' Then he was saying how (Longhorn teammate and Jerry Jones's grandson) Paxton (Anderson) talked really good about me. Even when I went on my visit, the first thing he said was, 'You're an A+ before we even talk about football because of how my grandson talked about you and the type of person you are.' So that's what we talked about at first, and at that point I'm still yelling, but the phone disconnected, but they told me I was a Cowboy before that happened. By that time, I was running inside, and my name was getting shown on the screen, and I was just excited."
On if he's had a chance to talk to any of his Texas teammates:
"I have, and I'm getting messages out the wazoo right now, but I've been talking to them telling them thank you, because if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be in this situation. I'm just very, very thankful for those guys, my brothers that I played with. I'm going to talk to them all night and make it an emphasis to respond to each and every one of them, because like I said, without them, Agent O, Demo, Arm Bandit, none of that would have been what it was."
On his journey at Texas leading to this:
"I wouldn't do anything any different. Coming in as a safety then going through what I went through there as far as injuries and everything else, it's something I would never regret, because it all came with me overcoming something, and with me doing that, it brought maturity. So, the ups and downs, the coaching changes, I wouldn't trade it, because I know everything I learned from Texas is going to help me at the next level. Everything that I've seen, was exposed to and around at Texas was something that's going to better me, whether that's in the NFL or later in life, so I want to thank Texas. That program, I'm excited to see where it's going under Coach Sark, and I can't wait to be an alumni and a fan of the Longhorns now."
On how prepared he feels coming out of Texas:
"At times I feel overprepared. I go into meetings and I feel so comfortable, I feel ahead, I feel just ready. I would say Texas has prepared me to a point where I feel like I'm ready to go in right now and just be one of those guys that's ready to get on the field and be attentive on the board and learning from the older guys and ready to help other guys. That's how ready Texas got me with what that coaching staff did and what that program shaped me into being, so Texas definitely prepared me in a way that I couldn't thank them enough."
Will McClay, Dallas Cowboys, Vice President of Player Personnel
On DeMarvion Overshown's fit in the Dallas defense:
"When you talk about looking for the player and you talk about the linebacker position, and what it takes to play linebacker in our defense and in the NFL – you have to cover running backs, you have to cover tight ends, you have to be able to blitz and you have to be able to play all over the field. You play with two linebackers a lot now with the sub defenses, so you have to do a number of different things, and you have to be able to contribute on fourth down and love to play the game. You watch this dude play, you turn on the tape, and it shows that he loves to play the game of football."
On Overshown's versatility:
"When you can find a player that can do two to three things at a very high level it's attractive, and when you move down from safety you're used to seeing the field a certain way, when you get closer (at linebacker), you're able to use your speed, your athleticism, your matchup, and also on special teams, so we're definitely looking at all the different ways you can use a player, and the versatility is key."
Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys, Head Coach
On the opportunity to draft DeMarvion Overshown:
"This is an excellent pick for us, it's a great fit. Frankly, we were just kind of holding our breath to make sure he stayed up (on the board). Excellent, excellent pick and I think he's a great. The physical characteristics everybody has already hit on, but his play style, that's what you're looking for as a coach … that type of energy, that impact, we're really, really excited. (To select Overshown) in the third round, we thought that was big."
Louis Riddick, NFL veteran and ESPN analyst
On DeMarvion Overshown:
"I get excited talking about this dude, 6-2, 230, 4.56. I talked to Sark about DeMarvion Overshown and he is a freaking heat seeking missile, period. Every hit has impact, every single one. And he has really taken to the key and diagnosis part of the game, both in terms of his run fit and his pass fits. He knows exactly how to pattern that, it's getting better and better. He's a guy who has good hands, he can stay on his feet, and take on blocks. It's the hits though, it's the impact hits, and he's a hell of a special teams player. Dallas has got them one right here. This kid is one of the most unsung, I believe sleepers, in the draft. DeMarvion Overshown is the real deal."
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Forever a Longhorn 🤘 @AGENT0__ pic.twitter.com/SfgcHFKvdI
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
.@AGENT0__ is ready to ride with Dallas. ⭐️#CowboysDraft | @SeatGeek pic.twitter.com/VsBoHWudK1
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 29, 2023
The moment dreams became reality@AGENT0__ x @dallascowboys pic.twitter.com/cE6JkJYFn8
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
Waking up as the newest member of #CowboysNation @AGENT0__ x @dallascowboys pic.twitter.com/hAGz1lhy2O
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
Welcome to the NFL, @AGENT0__ 🤘
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
🎙️ @BlessedJones33 x @joseph_ossai pic.twitter.com/NYkwS7A3QH
The hype was REALLY real when @AGENT0__ got the call. 📞😆
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 29, 2023
Listen to his secret audio NOW! 🔊#CowboysDraft | @ATT pic.twitter.com/OoGxIORYyJ
LB @AGENT0__: big time hits, big time pick. 💥#CowboysDraft | @TexasFootball
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 29, 2023
🗓 The @NFL Draft: April 28 & 29
📺 @nflnetwork, @ABCNetwork & @espn pic.twitter.com/c5v7BZjGIB
Born to be a Cowboy 🤠 @AGENT0__ x @dallascowboys pic.twitter.com/TmBRwvlP9g
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
A four-star safety in high school that converted to LB.
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 29, 2023
First-team All-Big 12 in 2022.
Get the full scouting report for DeMarvion Overshown out of @TexasFootball. 📝🧐↓#CowboysDraft | @MillerLite
Officially a @dallascowboys - @AGENT0__ 🤘
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
2023 #NFLDraft – April 27-29 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/yyIb195w4H
🤘 ATX ✈️ DFW ⭐️
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 29, 2023
He's just HOOKED on Texas 😉
Welcome to #CowboysNation, @AGENT0__!#CowboysDraft | @Fanatics pic.twitter.com/Dw2WkALT6u
Staying in the Lone Star State 🤘@AGENT0__ x @dallascowboys pic.twitter.com/npdQUplJBs
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
DMO is headed to Dallas!!!@AGENT0__ x @dallascowboys pic.twitter.com/LArR6G3c6d
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 29, 2023
