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Deuce Vaughn enters Cowboys rookie camp with chip on shoulder, ready to prove himself

Vaughn is no stranger to the skepticism of others. Teammates and coaches will wonder if he can hold up. It’s his job to prove he belongs.

FRISCO — When Deuce Vaughn got the call he had been waiting for, when he learned his dream of playing in the NFL was closer to reality, the person on the other end of the speakerphone delivered the line perfectly.

“Do you want to come to work with me next week?’’ a tearful Chris Vaughn asked.

Deuce was taken in the sixth round by the Cowboys. Chris is the team’s assistant director of college scouting and Deuce’s dad. The moment they shared in last month’s draft went viral.

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The time the two spent in the car on the way to the running back’s first day of work at The Star was more private.

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“We drove from Austin up here,’’ Deuce Vaughn said of Thursday’s trip. “He dropped me off at the hotel. It was a pretty cool experience.

“We talked about a lot of things on the way up here.’’

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Vaughn and the rest of the Cowboys rookies are at The Star through the weekend for what’s called a minicamp. It’s more of an orientation.

But the work to make this team has begun.

Vaughn rushed for 1,558 yards and caught 42 passes for another 378 yards this past season at Kansas State. He scored 12 touchdowns and had four plays of 60 or more yards.

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He’s also 5-5 and weighs 179 pounds. Those are the numbers many prefer to focus on in trying to determine if he has what it takes to make it at this level.

Vaughn is no stranger to the skepticism of others. In some ways, his first days at The Star are no different than his first days as a 130-pound freshman in high school when he was immediately promoted to the varsity.

Teammates and coaches will wonder if he can hold up. Some will doubt. It’s his job to prove he belongs.

“It’s why I’m the hardest working guy you’ll meet,’’ Vaughn said.

This path has been blazed before. Darren Sproles is about the same stature. He played in the NFL for 15 years and finished his career with 19,696 all-purpose yards.

Only five players in NFL history have more.

Sproles also went to Kansas State. The two met in Vaughn’s sophomore year and have stayed in contact.

“He’s been someone who has been in my corner ever since,’’ Vaughn said. “I text him almost every single day to try to pick his brain and understand what I can do to get an edge.’’

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And his advice?

“Come in and not waver in confidence,’’ Vaughn said. “You may be the smallest guy in the locker room. You may be the guy that whenever you’re walking with your rookie class, they’re head and shoulders above you.

“But don’t let your confidence waver. Understand you are here for a reason and to go to work and show everybody what you can do.’’

Vaughn watches tape of Sproles. He wants to emulate the back’s versatility and mental toughness. He hopes to be that Swiss army knife for the Cowboys that Sproles was for the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans and Philadelphia.

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Others fixate on Vaughn’s lack of stature. It’s understandable. But he got past that several years ago.

“After my freshman year in college,’’ Vaughn said. “I had a really good season and understood the way I prepared and went about my business during the week, that trumped everything.

“Having the most knowledge. Countless hours of film. There’s a recipe to success.’’

Where others dwell on the disadvantages of Vaughn’s stature, he’s learned to recognize and embrace the advantages.

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“I feel like over time, I’ve been able to come into one with my body,’’ Vaughn said. “Understanding how to use my leverage, not only in the open field but in blocking. Blocking on the rise, being able to hide behind O-lineman, being able to use those guys to my advantage.

“Being the smallest, it’s almost like you’re trying to find a small guy in between the trees. I just want to be able to use the O-lineman to my advantage.’’

The moment Vaughn learned he had been drafted by the team his father works for was special. But that emotional high has passed.

What Vaughn must do now is work to earn the respect of everyone in the Cowboys organization.

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“Letting it be known it’s not just a good story,’’ Vaughn said. “I’m coming here to work and play football.’’

Twitter: @DavidMooreDMN

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