Former Longhorn turning heads as one of the NFL’s premier young linebackers

Dallas Cowboys' 2023 third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown has been drawing rave reviews from opposing coaches and team executives this offseason.
Nov 28, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (13) intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown during the second quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images
Nov 28, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (13) intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown during the second quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images | Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images

DeMarvion Overshown has seemingly taken the NFL by storm despite only playing in 13 total games due to injuries. It was easy to see that he had tons of potential coming out of Texas in 2023 due to his impressive amount of athleticism and ball-tracking ability, and it sounds like he's already being talked about as one of the league's best.

According to ESPN, Overshown was recently ranked as the 8th-best off-ball linebacker in the NFL by league coaches and executives.

"He's absolutely amazing. Ridiculous."
A personnel executive with an NFL team
"One of the most athletic linebackers I've ever seen, he's the fastest guy out there. Can completely take over a game and was really starting to get it."
A veteran NFL defensive coach
"He's the second guy you worry about in Dallas, after Micah [Parsons]. Big run-and-hit ability, third-down speed to cover."
NFL offensive coach

Through the first 13 games and 12 starts of his career, he's totaled 90 tackles, 8 TFL, 5 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 5 QB hits. That's an insane stat line for only starting 12 games for the Cowboys.

It's easy to see why the league is so incredibly high on him, and why they believe he has an incredibly bright future.

He has the hitting and tackling ability of a traditional MIKE linebacker with the athleticism, agility, and closing-speed of a defensive back. Players of his kind don't come around often, and if he can find a way to stay healthy and limit nagging injuries, he'll undoubtedly become a consistent top 5 player at his position year-in and year-out.

It's going to be incredibly fun to follow his career and see how he does in 2025 playing alongside Micah Parsons and Kenneth Murray Jr. in the second level of the Cowboys' defense.