DeMarvion Overshown: The Cowboys’ Rising Star with a ‘Country’ Edge
FRISCO, Texas — If you tried to reach DeMarvion Overshown last week, chances are you didn’t hear back. The Dallas Cowboys linebacker had a good reason: his phone was blowing up. Overshown’s interception-turned-touchdown against the New York Giants went viral, and the notifications came pouring in. By the time the game ended, he estimated he had over 600 messages waiting for him.
“I’m pretty sure I didn’t text nobody back until the second day or night because there were so many messages,” Overshown admitted. “I was trying to read them all. I’m pretty sure I got to the majority of them, but phone was going crazy.”
In a season where the Cowboys have had more letdowns than triumphs, Overshown’s standout play has been a bright spot. As the team prepares for their Monday night showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC), the 2023 third-round draft pick is proving he’s more than just a rookie recovering from a lost season due to injury—he’s a glimpse into the Cowboys’ future.
Meet ‘Cowboy’: A Nickname That Sticks
On a team full of Cowboys, Overshown has earned the nickname “Cowboy.” And no, it’s not just because of the wristbands he wears in memory of a late cousin or the reflective sunglasses he sports. It’s his authentic Texas roots and style that make the name fitting. Overshown, who hails from Arp, Texas, about 120 miles east of Dallas, embraces his country persona wholeheartedly.
“This is who I am,” Overshown said. “It’s nothing to it, just who I am—a simple man.”
He’s been known to show up to games in full cowboy attire, complete with a long coat, cowboy hat, and even spurs on his boots. Defensive tackle Carlos Watkins was the one who gave him the nickname.
“He was like, ‘Man, you one of the most country [dudes] I done ever seen,’” Overshown recalled. “So out of nowhere, he started calling me, ‘Cowboy.’ I like it.”
Watkins added, “Just a very respectful young man and [has] the truck and everything. I feel like it suits him very well. Like a lot of times you see him make a tackle, and he’ll do that right there, he got ’em one with the lasso [celebration]. I just feel like that kind of fits who he is. He likes horses and stuff too. He’s into that stuff. So I was like, you know, that’s you, that fits.”
A Rodeo-Worthy Play
Overshown’s pick-six against the Giants was nothing short of spectacular. Lined up as an off-the-ball linebacker, he shifted to the edge just before the snap. When quarterback Drew Lock didn’t adjust the protection, Overshown knew he had an opportunity. He bulldozed through running back Devin Singletary, deflected Lock’s sidearm pass, and snagged the ball for a 23-yard touchdown.
“The bulldozer in him—‘I’m not going to make a move, I’m going to run through the dude’—that’s probably the reason why he got the pick,” said pass rusher Micah Parsons. “If he was going to make somebody miss, that ball could have went anywhere. But I think the best part about him was, ‘I’m always going to run through somebody.’”
Overshown’s instincts and physicality were on full display, and the play drew comparisons to a legendary moment in Cowboys history. In 2006, DeMarcus Ware intercepted a Michael Vick pass and returned it for a touchdown. Overshown’s play was described as being in the same realm by defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Making History
Overshown didn’t stop with the interception. He also recovered a fumble against the Giants, becoming the first Cowboys player since 2002 to record both a pick-six and a fumble recovery in the same game. His stats this season are equally impressive:
- Five sacks in his first 12 games, the second most by a Cowboy since 1982 (behind Parsons’ 10 in 2021).
- 88 tackles, second only to Eric Kendricks on the team.
- 13 quarterback pressures, leading all Cowboys linebackers.
Overshown is one of only three Cowboys defenders to fill every key statistical category this season, joining elite company in Ware (2006) and Greg Ellis (1999).
From Recovery to Stardom
Just a year ago, Overshown was recovering from a torn ACL suffered in a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. He wasn’t even running yet, let alone playing. But he stayed mentally sharp, even practicing calling plays at home with his helmet on.
“As much as I wasn’t on the field, I was still on the field at home, my helmet on, calling plays,” Overshown said.
Now, he’s a key piece of the Cowboys’ defense, and head coach Mike McCarthy believes the best is yet to come. “We’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg really,” McCarthy said. “I’m so impressed with him, and in his consistency, in his approach, and that’s just going to keep putting him in the position to progress.”
Overshown’s journey from injury to impact is a testament to his resilience and determination. And as he continues to make plays, one thing is clear: the Cowboys have found a star in “Cowboy.”
Originally Written by: Todd Archer
