Dak Prescott on potential starting center Brock Hoffman: 'I'll go to war with him any day'

Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Brock Hoffman could be making his first start for the team on Sunday when they kick off against the LA Rams for preseason game one. Hoffman is in the lead in the race for the starting center job, vacated this offseason by new Commanders center Tyler Biadasz.

An undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech, the Cowboys third-year Cowboys lineman had a winding path to get to the NFL, but now that he’s made it, he’s ready to make the most of his opportunity.

“I feel like everything I’ve gone through in my football journey all the way from when I was in high school has led to this point,” Hoffman said this week, via DallasCowboys.com. “I’ve gone through some highs and some lows, I’ve faced some adversity along the way, but I think it’s just prepared me mentally to be ready for this.”

Hoffman has a key supporter in his corner – starting quarterback Dak Prescott. The veteran praised the former Hokie’s passion and work ethic at training camp this week. Whether or not it gets him the job over rookie Cooper Beebe remains to be seen.

“He’s a guy that has the love for the game, the passion,” Prescott said. “It jumps out in the moment he starts the huddle. That’s contagious. People feel that and then whether it’s a run, a pass, he’s got your back and I know he’s got my back. And not just mine, the other 10 guys or whoever else stepped on the field with him.”

“I’ll go to war with him any day, anywhere, anyhow.”

Hoffman battling Beebe for top job

Hoffman has one key advantage over Beebe for the starting job, which is experience in the offense. He played for Dallas last season as the team transitioned from Kellen Mond to Mike McCarthy as play-caller and installed Brian Schottenheimer as OC. Schottenheimer has noticed a difference in Hoffman’s demeanor thanks to his knowledge of the system.

“He’s another one of those guys that’s a tone-setter,” Schottenheimer said. “The command of the offense and the discipline of the communication process…this guy has mastered what we’re trying to do from a declaration standpoint. Him being in that role right now, he’s playing with a different confidence than he maybe had last year. He’s very confident and he’s doing an awesome job with everything we’re asking him to do.”

The Cowboys will likely start their best five on the offensive line for their first preseason game, even if it only lasts for a few series. If Hoffman gets the nod, he’s feeling pretty confident about leading the offense with Prescott.

“I feel like in terms of my mental speed, I feel like I’ve really grown playbook-wise,” Hoffman said. “In terms of the game, it has slowed down and in terms of being able to see safety rotations, different defensive looks, our defense has given us a different variety of looks and the center has to be ready for that for the quarterback.”