Johnathan Hankins: Dallas Cowboys defensive line is 'nasty,' defense 'getting scarier'
Dallas Cowboys veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins is back for another season and feeling as excited as ever to get to work with his teammates. Following his trade from Las Vegas to Dallas last October, the Cowboys extended Hankins’ contract for one year and $1.3 million.
He became a critical piece in the defensive line’s run-stopping scheme and had a sack and two tackles for loss during the postseason run. Dallas returns almost every piece of the 2022 starting defensive unit and Hankins believes the room has only gotten better.
“That D-line room is nasty,” Hankins told DallasCowboys.com‘s Patrik Walker this week at minicamp. “Every time I talk about it, I’m just so excited and not just to talk about it, but to be a part of it. We’re working hard, getting each other better and we’re some bad (MFers). That’s just the way we do things, and that’s what our motto is.”
The former second-rounder out of Ohio State is hungry to get back to the playoffs. It’s that mentality that all of his fellow defensive linemen share.
“Every guy in that room — it doesn’t matter who gets the shine,” Hankins said. “We feed off of one another. It just feels good. It’s nice to be around a team like this, that’s orchestrated well and you don’t get that many opportunities; especially for me, I’m in my 11th season and I’ve only been to the playoffs twice.
“This team, for years to come, is gonna be something. I see this defense getting even scarier for offensive guys.”
Hankins eager to mentor Mazi Smith
Despite parting ways with Carlos Watkins in free agency, the Cowboys have only added to the frontline of the defensive unit since last season. They drafted Mazi Smith with their first-round selection, then piled on with Junior Fehoko in the fourth round. Dallas also signed free agent defensive end Ben Banogu this week.
In Smith, Hankins sees a defensive lineman full of potential that he can help mold.
“It’s nice to see a Michigan guy get drafted in the first round, even though I’m a Buckeye,” Hankins said. “Dude is probably one of the strongest guys on the team. I’m definitely honored to be able to mentor him, show him the way and try to help him develop.”
Hankins and Smith worked side-by-side during minicamp practices, which suggests the two will end up on the field together at some point in the 2023 season.