Donovan Ezeiruaku – Rookie Edge Rusher Already Registering Real Pressure
Preseason Performance
Ezeiruaku has been one of the most active defensive players for Dallas in August. According to Blogging the Boys and DallasCowboys.com, he’s totaled seven quarterback pressures across the first two preseason games, second-most on the roster behind James Houston. That’s not a small thing, especially since the Dallas Morning News pointed out that the Cowboys haven’t had an edge rusher actually record a sack yet. Pressure may not show up in the box score, but coaches value it just as much because it forces mistakes.
In the opener against the Rams, Pro Football Focus credited Ezeiruaku with multiple clean wins at the line of scrimmage. He consistently collapsed the pocket and flushed quarterbacks off their spot, even when the stat sheet didn’t give him credit. The second preseason matchup against the Ravens showed more of the same: an explosive first step, a strong rip move, and an ability to hold his edge in the run game. For a rookie, the consistency across two different opponents is precisely what you want to see.
Training Camp Buzz
The hype didn’t just start with preseason games. At Oxnard, Sports Illustrated reported that Ezeiruaku was “virtually unblockable” during the third practice of camp, beating first-round tackle Tyler Guyton clean off the edge. DallasCowboys.com also highlighted how he’s been mixing in multiple pass-rush moves, learning from veterans while earning extra reps with Micah Parsons out of action.
He’s also handled the mental side well. In an early interview with the team site, he admitted to having some nerves before his first scrimmage, but said once the whistle blew, “you’re just playing football.” That calm approach has carried into his first NFL snaps.
College and Draft Profile
The preseason flashes line up perfectly with his college résumé. At Boston College in 2024, Ezeiruaku racked up 16.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, and eight forced fumbles, numbers that earned him ACC Defensive Player of the Year and the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end.
Next Gen Stats also gave him one of the best analytical profiles in the draft, an 83 overall Draft Score and an 87 Production Score. Those metrics showed how disruptive he was over his entire college career, not just in one hot season.
Why It Matters
Dallas is in the middle of a tricky situation with Parsons holding out of camp. That’s forced the defense to look elsewhere for help off the edge, and so far Ezeiruaku has delivered. The rookie is second on the team in pressures, he’s stacking strong practices, and he’s proving that his college dominance can translate.
For now, it’s only preseason. But if he keeps up this pace, don’t be surprised if Ezeiruaku carves out a role in the Week 1 rotation.