Osborn: Adrian Hamilton took long, winding road to Cowboys

Messages
46,859
Reaction score
10
Posted on 07/26/2012 by Tom Orsborn


IRVING – As a star defensive end at Dallas Carter, Adrian Hamilton dreamed of playing safety in college.

“I thought I was the best athlete around,” he said Thursday. “I thought I had enough athletic ability to play safety.”

Fortunately for Hamilton, then-Carter coach Allen Wilson set him straight, telling him he needed to stay at the line of scrimmage, where he could continue to torment overmatched offensive tackles.

“He just ripped past them because of his speed,” Wilson said.

That was also the case at Prairie View A&M, where Hamilton led the nation as a senior last year with 20.5 sacks, eclipsing the Southwestern Athletic Conference record previously held by Colts end Robert Mathis.

The 6-foot-3, 251-pound Hamilton’s skill at getting to the quarterback has him in the running for a job with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted rookie at outside linebacker.

“You can see in the workouts we’ve had he does have some athletic ability,” coach Jason Garrett said in May. “He chases the ball well, has some natural pass rush moves and seems to have some capability to drop in coverage.”

And he isn’t easily discouraged, a fact underscored by his circuitous journey to the Cowboys.

Rivals.com ranked Hamilton as the country’s No. 51 linebacker prospect coming out of Carter in 2006. He signed a letter of intent with Oklahoma State but changed his mind after learning the Cowboys wanted him to “gray shirt,” meaning he wouldn’t receive a scholarship for that year.

Rather than stick it out in Stillwater, Hamilton sat out a year before transferring to Texas Tech as a walk-on. After playing sparingly for the Red Raiders and failing to secure a scholarship, he enrolled at Dallas Community College, where he spent two years away from football focusing on academics.

“I just had to grow up and get a lot of things right, make sure my grades stayed right and just make sure I stayed humble and kept working,” Hamilton, 24, said. “I never lost the love of football. Things just weren’t going well. I couldn’t find a scholarship…It was pretty tough on me. But there’s always an opportunity waiting to happen and you just have to seize it.”

Hamilton wanted to land at either Texas A&M or Houston, but he wound up at Prairie View A&M after a professor he’d known since childhood suggested he attend a historically black school, according to NCAA.com. Although the decision likely cost him a shot at being drafted, he’s glad he made it.

“I have no regrets because of the end result,” he said. “I stayed with the journey and I am here…It’s a great opportunity. To be on a Texas team in my hometown, you got to love it.”

As an added bonus, he gets to learn from Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who recently offered some tips during a film session.

“Oh, it’s been a dream come true,” Hamilton said. “Just watching him as a kid, as a high schooler, how he moves, getting sacks. As a fellow pass rusher, you have to admire someone who can do what he’s done at this level.”

Wilson, who attended Thursday’s practice, said he’s proud of Hamilton for not giving up.

“He had that attitude, that dream and goal, and just kept fighting until he got to where he’s at,” Wilson said. “Those intangibles are going to help him. You give him an opportunity and he is going to make the most of it.”
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Messages
10,636
Reaction score
0
If he's any good on special teams Id like to keep him safe on the 53 and away from waivers. because he can be a useful situational nickel change of pace rusher.

We don't have many options in that regard.
 
Last edited:
Messages
46,859
Reaction score
10
How many OLBs we keep? Four?

Ware & Spencers are locks.

Kyle Wilber as a rookie fourth rounder is essentially a lock.

Could it come down between Hamilton and Victor Butler?

Could we go long at OLB and keep 5?
 

dbair1967

Administrator
Messages
62,102
Reaction score
12,037
How many OLBs we keep? Four?

Ware & Spencers are locks.

Kyle Wilber as a rookie fourth rounder is essentially a lock.

Could it come down between Hamilton and Victor Butler?

Could we go long at OLB and keep 5?

I think they could, especially if Hamilton shows alot during preseason. Spencer is almost assuredly gone after this year and Butler might be as well.

I dont think keeping 9 LB's total is out of the question. They could go with 5 OLB and 4 ILB. Even 10 wouldnt be a shock IMO.
 

superpunk

Pro Bowler
Messages
11,003
Reaction score
1
I could definitely see us moving on from Victor Butler in camp. He's had his chances and done almost nothing with them. He isn't particularly dynamic on STs either.
 

NoShame

UDFA
Messages
2,797
Reaction score
1
I have high hopes for him.. I think he makes it and is an eventual starter for us. I'm actually surprised he didn't get drafted... 20 sacks in one season deserves at least a late round pick. I don't care what division you're from.
 

NoDak

UDFA
Messages
2,633
Reaction score
0
If it came down to this guy and Butler, I'd cut Butler and wouldn't think twice about it. He's had time. Sooner or later, you've to show more than the occasional flash.
 

Sheik

All-Pro
Messages
24,809
Reaction score
15
I was thinking the same. I've been waiting for Butler to improve each year. It's not looking good. He can rush the passer decently, but not much else. If its close, go with the potential over the guy that's reached his ceiling.
 

cmd34

Pro Bowler
Messages
11,877
Reaction score
126
Didn't Hamilton leave Texas Tech because he was a bit of a dummie and also because he couldn't beat out superstar Brandon Williams ??
 

dbair1967

Administrator
Messages
62,102
Reaction score
12,037
Didn't Hamilton leave Texas Tech because he was a bit of a dummie and also because he couldn't beat out superstar Brandon Williams ??

I dont know about that, but Brandon Williams was pretty good at TT
 
Top Bottom