Already turning heads in rookie mini-camp and OTA’s, the Cowboys have high hopes for rookie WR Michael Gallup. Mixing his talent and heart, the Cowboys plan to utilize this raw WR to their benefit. Let’s look at five things Gallup can do to win the offensive rookie of the year.

Coaching

Gallup is a young WR. Having only played the position for a few years, he has a lot of room to grow. In high school, Gallup lettered 16 times which made him a hometown hero in Monroe, GA. Due to his SAT scores, he never received a major conference scholarship, which is why he was a lesser known NFL prospect. He went on to Butler Community College where he racked up 780 yards, 11 touchdowns his freshman year and 9 receptions, 74 yards, 1 touchdown his sophomore year due to injury which also cost him Power Five scholarships. He ended up signing with Colorado State University and earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference awards by catching 76 passes for a conference-high 1,272 yards and 14 scores. Once Gallup got some coaching and better talent around him, he flourished. The Cowboys hope to see this trend as well. In Dallas, he’ll have solid coaching to help him perfect his craft of beating cornerbacks on the sideline, speeding down seams, and going up for the ball with his very strong hands.

Red Zone

Gallup had a massive Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. His stats on that day were six-catches, 108-yards, three-touchdowns. One of the areas the Cowboys need to improve on this year, is scoring TD’s. Obviously, every team can improve on this but the a lot of the Cowboys games came down to having to kick a field goal instead of getting a Red Zone TD. 40 percent of the time, the Cowboys had to settle for a field goal. If Gallup wants a chance for ROTY, he’ll need to have a few 100 yard, three touchdown games this season. Dak Prescott needs a Red Zone weapon besides Zeke. Gallup has the size and speed to do it. He also has the hands to fight for the ball. If he does, he’ll turn this non playoff team into a team no one wants to play come December.

Blocking

Not all heroes wear capes. Not all heroes show up in the stat line either. The Cowboys are going to run the ball A LOT. Gallup is going to have to set the blocking edge for screens, sweeps and when Zeke turn it up on the outside. These type of things create a team atmosphere and change games. He’s got to be scrappy and fight for every block. ROTY win the hearts of people as well, not just the stat chart.

Moving The Chains

If you study Gallups tape. One of his strongest skills in catching is catching the back shoulder throw. This is a huge reason the Cowboys drafted him. Dak Prescott thrives in short intermediate tight window passes. Unlike most QBs, he is better at that than the long ball. Gallup ability to catch over the shoulder passes will make defenses cry and will also help Dak on the long ball. One of the areas the Cowboys struggled with in games without Zeke was managing the clock. They had way too many three and outs because they became so one dimensional. With Zeke back and Dak’s ability to roll out, Gallup because the secret sauce to sustain drives and moves the chains. People will know Gallups name because he’s going to move the chains. They’ll have no choice in giving him the award if he can score and keep the Cowboys on the field. 

O’Dell Beckham It

Put on the tape. Watch the man. The last WR to win Offensive rookie of the year was O’dell Beckham Jr. While he did light up the stat sheet, O’dell also made some crazy SportsCenter highlights. Those always catch the eye of the voters. Gallup is certainly capable of doing so. Gallup needs to have a break out game to boost his confidence and prove to himself he belongs, and one of any WR’s boosters is an acrobatic catch. He doesn’t need to do this every game or even have the mindset of making crazy catches, but he will undoubtedly make some. 

Gallup will continue to turn heads and has a chance to be very special. The stage is his, and he is ready. He just needs to go out and show why he can be ROTY.

Nicolas Greenfield

Staff writer covering the Dallas Cowboys. Reside just North of Atlanta representing America’s Team. Husband, Daddy, Grad Student, Pastor, Teacher.