By Jamal Baker
NDG Contributing Writer
The Dallas Cowboys are entering the 2025 season with a linebacker core that should wreak havoc against opposing offenses. Competition will certainly be high in the Cowboys’ linebacker room.
The unit will feature:
o DeMarvion Overshown
o Kenneth Murray Jr.
o Marist Liufau
o Jack Sanborn
o Shemar James
o Damone Clark
o Buddy Johnson
o Darius Harris
o Justin Barron
DeMarvion Overshown made a strong case to be named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year before suffering a devastating knee injury that ended his 2024 season. Overshown tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL in his right knee and underwent surgery in December 2024 to repair the ligaments.
He is targeting a potential return in November against the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs.
“Oh yeah I’m active in this,” Overshown wrote in an Instagram post after Dallas’ Thanksgiving Day game was announced.
Across 13 games, Overshown recorded 90 tackles, five sacks, eight tackles for loss, one forced fumble, an interception, and a touchdown. His presence on the defensive side of the ball brings an added element of speed and violence that wreaks havoc against opposing offenses.
If there’s one thing we know about Overshown, it’s that the kid is resilient.
He suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a preseason game that caused him to miss his entire rookie season. Coming off that injury last season, he proved to everyone that he is one of the league’s rising stars.
With renowned linebacker guru Matt Eberflus coordinating the defense, the Cowboys are hoping Overshown returns to the field better than ever.
Overshown is going back to his college number this season and will be wearing jersey No. 0. Earning the nickname “Agent 0” at Texas, he will look to showcase his elite level linebacker skills once again.
The Cowboys traded for linebacker Kenneth Murray earlier this offseason, and the former first-round pick already feels comfortable in Eberflus’ scheme.
“I think it’s a great fit,” Murray said, via Clarence Hill of All City DLLS. “I’ve been enjoying myself, obviously transitioning over from being traded and getting up to speed and stuff like that. Lot of things work to my strengths, coming down hill, playing the coverage, stuff like that. It’s been good. It’s been great being here during the offseason program, getting around the guys and just trying to come in and establish a culture and get better every day.”
Murray Is expected to be a Day 1 starter and could potentially wear the green dot to call plays on defense this year.
“I’m extremely comfortable with it,” Murray said of being the green dot. “I’ve done it the majority of my career, getting us in and out of checks, being able to decipher different things, different formation, stuff like that.”
Murray was a defensive captain with the Tennessee Titans last season and recorded 95 tackles, 3.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble across 14 games.
As quarterback of the defense, Murray vows to improve the Cowboys run defense—which has been a major weakness over the past five seasons. Dallas ranked 29th in run defense last year and have not ranked higher than 16th since 2018.
“I think it’s just taking a different approach,” Murray said. “Obviously, it’s a new style coming in, and then, you know, got some new players. That’s something that I’ll take extremely personally. That’s the mentality I’m gonna bring to it. It’s personal, man. When they just running it down your throat, it’s unacceptable.”
Murray has a chance to be the run-stopping X-factor on the new—and hopefully improved—Dallas defense.
Dallas selected linebacker Marist Liufau with the 87th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he has made significant strides in his development this offseason.
Liufau has a chance to win one of the starting linebacker roles this summer. Eberflus has a strong track record of developing linebackers, and Liufau has noticed a clear difference in practice sessions this year.
“I feel like from the players standpoint at least, running to the ball, there’s a lot more energy, emphasis on running to the ball and getting to the football as a defense and attacking the ball, emphasizing takeaways.” Liufau said.
Liufau had a productive rookie season, recording 50 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles across 17 games.
Standing 6-2, 234 pounds, Liufau improved his strength throughout the offseason to be better suited to meet the physicality demands of an NFL linebacker.
The Notre Dame product has also bought into what new head coach Brian Schottenheimer is selling.
“I love it, that’s his personality. I love that he is who he is, kind of has that swagger and just brings it to the table every day,” Liufau said. “You love that from a head coach, just showing you who they are and showing you that they’re ready to work and they’re going to show up to work and have that energy to get better.”
The second-year linebacker is one of many players who have raved about the new culture Schottenheimer has built with the team.
Liufau is poised to build on his promising rookie season and could become a key contributor for the Dallas defense this upcoming season.
The linebacker position group in Dallas is shaping up to be an exciting one.
