Cowboys' Mike McCarthy has All-Pro comparable for rookie Hunter Luepke
Rookie running back Hunter Luepke earned a place on the Dallas Cowboys' 53-man roster thanks to a strong 118-yard performance in the team's preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders. The next step? Fighting for playing time once the regular season kicks off. The undrafted free agent is one of four young running backs on […]
Rookie running back Hunter Luepke earned a place on the Dallas Cowboys' 53-man roster thanks to a strong 118-yard performance in the team's preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The next step? Fighting for playing time once the regular season kicks off. The undrafted free agent is one of four young running backs on the roster and they all provide something to the Cowboys. From Tony Pollard's and Rico Dowdle's well-balanced play to Deuce Vaughn's exciting playmaking abilities, each one has something the offense could need on gamedays.
For Luepke, that "something" is the ability to be a fullback. In fact, the young player out of North Dakota State reminds Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy of a former All-Pro with whom he won a Super Bowl in 2011: Three-time Pro Bowler John Kuhn.
"John Kuhn is an excellent comparable," McCarthy told reporters on Thursday. "Because that has been used in our conversations. If you recall, John was a very productive one-back runner at Shippensburg."
And that's the thing that intrigues me the most about Luepke. Since the moment he declared for the Draft, everyone has basically perceived him as a fullback prospect. However, he averaged 6.1 rushing yards in 274 carries in college. He scored 13 total touchdowns in his senior year. In other words, it's not like he's just a blocker.
Luepke can catch and run and thrive in pass protection. In the preseason, he lined up at fullback three times in 71 offensive snaps, per PFF. In other words, he's a hybrid back who can help the Cowboys in so many ways.
"Hunter has those skills," McCarthy added. "You got to see it against the Raiders, very productive in the one-back run part of it. His versatility is what we're excited about. Obviously, he gives us the lead blocking (…), he's got good hands, good receiver, is very bright, the pass protection part of it he has picked up for a rookie very well."
But that's just as an offensive weapon. Early on, Luepke's easiest path to the playing field is likely going to be special teams, something McCarthy alluded to earlier in the year.
"And then you have a lot of high special teams value," the Cowboys head coach continued. "You have a guy like John (Kuhn) that can be a staple over there for four or five years, I see Hunter (Luepke) in the same light."
The good news for Luepke is there are going to be a lot of open spots on offense following the departures of LB Luke Gifford and CB Kelvin Joseph, two of the three Cowboys with the highest special teams snap counts last year. If all goes right, Luepke can live up to the comparisons to Kuhn and make an impact right away.
Why Cowboys will dominate September football
A 3-0 start is in play.
Featured image via Dallas Cowboys' YouTube
