Cowboys rookie Deuce Vaughn receives message from Barry Sanders

The Dallas Cowboys went out and drafted one of the most electrifying tailbacks in all of college football in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. They drafted one of the greatest running backs in Kansas State history, Deuce Vaughn, with the 212th overall pick. A dynamic smaller running back, Vaughn received a message from one of the greatest running backs in the history of the sport, Hall-of-Famer Barry Sanders. It was part of a promotion from Fanatics, where several different NFL legends spoke to different rookies across the league.

Check out the video below. The part where Vaughn got Sanders’ jersey signed with the special message is from 2:59 to 3:11.

Here's a pre-season pep talk from the Rookie Premiere that these @NFL rookies will never forget #FanaticsLockerRoom

Good luck to all the rookies! pic.twitter.com/zZEeInX85I

— Fanatics (@Fanatics) June 8, 2023

“This dude right there is the reason I play this game,” Vaughn said in the video. “He’s the reason I work so hard. This is huge.”

As most know, Deuce’s father Chris Vaughn, is an NFL Scout for the Dallas Cowboys. The organization has chosen the K-State star and his son.

Vaughn is the first Kansas State running back to be taken in the NFL Draft since Bryce Brown was selected in the seventh round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012.

In 2011, Daniel Thomas was picked in the second round by the Miami Dolphins.

Vaughn is a Round Rock, Texas native that was a staple of the K-State offense all three seasons in Manhattan. As a true freshman in 2020, Vaughn ran for 642 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 434 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

The Big 12 coaches named Vaughn Freshman of the Year in the league and 247Sports named him True Freshman of the Year in 2020. Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus named Vaughn an honorable mention All-American the same season.

2021 was just as successful for Vaughn.

In his sophomore campaign, the Kansas State back ran for 1,404 yards and 18 touchdowns and added 468 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Five different publications listed Vaughn as either a first or second Team All-American for his effort in 2021.

Pro Football Focus also named him the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

He ran for a career-high 1,558 yards in 2022 and added nine more rushing touchdowns to his total, along with 378 yards receiving and three touchdowns. Four publications named Vaughn a first-team All-American for his 2022 season.

Despite being the shortest player in NFL Combine history, he had a successful workout. Vaughn was great in the drill work, which led him to get drafted. At the K-State Pro Day, he ran a 4.56 second 40-yard dash.

On3’s Drew Galloway also contributed to this article.