He was previously Atlanta's Director of Player Personnel from 2013-15. He leaves Dallas to work alongside Mike Mayock and reunites with his former colleague in Tampa, Jon Gruden. He had his critics during his era as the head of the college scouting arm, but he always had a very famous former colleague and friend in his corner. "Will McClay has done a great job and is an excellent point person for the staff,'' Juliff said. 2023 Dallas Cowboys Draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 26 2 TBD 3 TBD 4 TBD 5 TBD 6 TBD 7 . Who is available? "You can never become a good scout until you admit the guys you miss on.''. "While we lost a lot of experience, we gained some youth and knowledge of how the game is played on the college side and how these young guys are,'' McClay said. Hes survived by his wife, Criss, and his sons, Bryant and Logan. Larry Lacewell, scouting director during Cowboys dynasty, passes away Podcast Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars. Lacewell, with a twinkle in his eye, a beverage in his hand and that welcoming Southern drawl, could always give the Cowboys owner a run for his money. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. @BaileyStewart : RT @dallascowboys: Larry Lacewell, the #DallasCowboys' longtime Director of College and Pro Scouting, passes away. The pro . He was always happy to espouse his vast knowledge, but it was always in a self-deprecating manner. It was disorganized and chaotic. Vital was brought on in the heat of pre-draft to see how and where hed specifically fit in; before the Cowboys formally assigned him a position. He later watched film with the scouting department before tapping Hall on the arm to let him know it was time to go. However, that is not totally clear.). I have been blessed enough to be able to attend the NFL draft at Our house, several Cowboys games and have interviewed players at special events, always working hard to bring you that special access and coverage that only DCS can provide. Reveal contacts of top Dallas Cowboys managers and employees. Jones is known for his ability to spin a yarn. Page 3 of 3 < Prev 1 2 3. Management He needed two surgeries before being able to fully return. Will McClay (born October 13, 1966) is vice president of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys. Copyright 2018 Dallas Cowboys Scouting - All Rights Reserved. The day before that was reported, BTB's favorite insider sent this out: I think media is missing what is happening in Dallas as The Boys have moved from an outdated management structure to a more sustainable one. Minnesota Vikings Front Office Roster: The official source of the latest Vikings front office, staff members, and team information A native of Loreauville, La., Vital graduated from Nicholls State and as a running back, was selected in the seventh round (185th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. Favorite Cowboy of all time- Emmitt Smith. (OCC posits that Judd Garrett also reports to McClay, but I think he is one step removed, based on the titles. David Moore, Cowboys Insider. If it was all done over again with hindsight, the new landing spots for the Dallas stars On Thursday, during the second phase of offseason workouts, DT Maliek Collins broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot and is expected to miss most of the offseason. Fans of the Dallas Cowboys are, by and large, exhibiting consternation at the lack of activity concerning the coaching staff. Woman arrested in killing of 3 children at Italy, Texas, home in Ellis County, 41 North Texas congregations granted approval to leave the United Methodist Church, Mark Wahlberg pours tequila for fans at Dallas restaurant during thunderstorm, Chambelanes cambian de look: bailarines se adaptan a una nueva moda y ritmo en DFW, 12 Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants that have closed in 2023, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defers comment on revival of sexual harassment lawsuit, Ex-Cowboys OC Kellen Moore opens up on Dallas departure, shows gratitude for Mike McCarthy. It seems like Tony Pollard will be with the Cowboys at least through 2023. Those three represent a loss of 88 years in scouting experience. After retirement, he started a career as an assistant coach and since then he has worked for many clubs as a coaching staff and must have earned $7 million to $8 . Its McClays strong recommendation of Vital that helped convince Owner/GM Jerry Jones to bring him aboard. He didnt come across like an arrogant, pompous ass. May 2022 - Present6 months. He was named Most Valuable Player in all three sports his senior year. The 2016 NFL draft will always be memorable for Dallas Cowboy fans. As a freshman, he played wide receiver and contributed to the team winning the 1981 Class 3A state title. Its been more than 18 years since Lacewell drove Old Stinky' a broken down Ford Taurus station wagon he took over from Walt Yowarsky after the long-time scout retired to work every day with the Cowboys. Vital comes to Dallas after spending the previous three seasons (2013-15) as the Atlanta Falcons director of player. Story Links DALLAS (March 10, 2021) - The National Football Foundation (NFF) Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter announced today legendary broadcaster Scott Murray will receive the chapter's 2021 Distinguished Texan Award. Please enter a valid email and try again. Something went wrong. But. There wasnt a lot of room left on it. By the end of his playing career he had helped the Drive win three arena league football titles in four appearances. Tales about Johnson and Switzer flowed frequently. Get the latest news. Cowboys college scouting coordinator Chris Hall joins the boys to talk about the latest in his world and the search for the team's next generation of players. Things are not as clear-cut later in the draft, but at the least the first-round pick should be a simple call to make by the time the draft is actually underway. Before becoming an NFL scout, Vital was director of player personnel for the Montreal Machine of the World League of American Football for two years (1990-91). That gives him a unique perspective to comment on the team's rapid rise to glory after the sale, the prolonged period that followed when the club's draft expertise was questioned to its recent resurgence under vice president of player personnel Will McClay. "Did hell freeze over?'' Vital first landed in Atlanta in 2007 as the club's assistant director of player personnel - a position he held until 2011 when he was the Falcons associate director of player personnel. "But I'm glad for him that he got an opportunity to go somewhere else. Stability can be fleeting in the NFL. A few seconds later, in the awkward silence, Stephen Jones leaned over and whispered to Lacewell. Lacewell spent the majority of his 13 seasons with the Cowboys as the director of pro and college scouting. The players near the bottom of the Oilers depth chart were throwing around the Cowboys second and third teamers pretty good. He was responsible for signing college free agents for eight years. RAT. I assume this is an effort to reign in the scouts a little and make sure that the board is not constructed "on pure talent," whatever that may mean, but designed to deliver the best possible players that fit the Cowboys system - something McClay has demonstrated he can do in bringing in street free agents that contributed.You can also go back one more year: Claiborne was graded as the "best corner since Deion" but has failed to produce so far in Dallas. Vital comes to Dallas after spending the previous three seasons (2013-15) as the Atlanta Falcons director of player Sure, injuries played a role, but was Claiborne really the best possible fit specifically for Dallas? He's old. Hell didn't freeze over. Mark Lane (@therealmarklane . While with the Longhorns, Vaughn coached defensive backs (2014-15) while also serving as the school's special teams coordinator in 2014. Vaughn had a brief stint (Jan.-Feb., 2000) at Tulsa as his first coaching job, after serving as a graduate assistant at Arkansas in 1999. I cant remember anybody ever having a bad word about him.. Matt Groh: Promoted to Director of College Scouting The most experienced among the Patriots' college scouts, Groh will be leading the department entering his 11th season in the organization. "His relationship with the Davis family, especially Al, who was one of his mentors "I'll always be indebted to the Jones family.''. Upon leaving Oklahoma, Lacewell became the head coach and athletic director of Arkansas State. Alex Loomis Director of Pro Scouting College: LSU Biography Alex Loomis joined the Dallas Cowboys Scouting Department in July 2009 as the club's pro scouting intern. Vaughn was at Arkansas for eight years coaching linebackers, safeties, cornerbacks and serving as the director of on-campus recruiting (2006). Lacewell would frequently spend time with the team at training camp in Oxnard, Calif. and pop up periodically at the clubs headquarters during the regular season. The Dallas Cowboys bolstered their scouting department by adding a former top executive with Atlanta Falcons, according to sources. The man primarily responsible for player personnel matters with the Cowboys is Stephen Jones. The Cowboys need to maximize the value of their picks (just like every team should try to do). "Who's in charge of the uniform code violation?'' Mitch LaPoint will continue to be a national scout and assumes the title of assistant director of scouting. Quarterbacks - Scott Tolzien. The Cowboys have made a systemic change. The Dallas Cowboys named Lionel Vital the team's director of college scouting on Wednesday. Which players do they feel are worth the 16/17th pick, will they trade back if certain names are off the board, is there anyone deemed worth a move up, and how far? Will will make a recommendation to Jerry and I and Im sure that well support it.. He would remain head coach for the next five seasons where he accumulated an overall record of 55281 and a 13 postseason record. Odds & lines subject to change. Head coaches. Ciskowski joined the Cowboys as a scout in 1992 and from 2001-07 was the assistant director of college scouting. While coach Jimmy Johnson receives much of the credit for presiding over the drafts that helped build a championship team, it was enhanced by Jones' willingness to spend lavishly in Plan B free agency. Parcells reorganized the scouting department and Lacewell retired before the 05 draft. Last year, the team did not have what appeared to be a really organized approach. He took the job as an assistant head coach and director of player personnel of the Grand Rapids Rampage in 1998 and 1999. He had a voice in the decisions to draft some of the best players in Cowboys history. By creating the clear delineation between the Assistant Director of Player Personnel and the scouting function, the Cowboys have placed McClay in a more neutral position than Ciskowski was (he still was the head scout when he held the job, while McClay does not seem to have that role at all). To me, this is all encouraging, because it shows not only that the owner and general manager is aware of certain problems but is addressing them. The coaches may not be changing, but one move made in another part of the staff may have long lasting effects on the Cowboys. https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2016/06/18/dallas-cowboys-lionel-vital-director-college-scouting-will-mcclay/, ICYMI: Cowboys Minicamp, surprise injuries, Tony Romo doesn't get his way, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. However, unless one of the coaches makes his own decision to leave, it does not appear that anyone is going to be fired this year. Dateline, January 28, 2021: Offseason, Day 25. McClay was complimentary of Juliff's contributions and connections. Former Cowboys director of scouting Larry Lacewell dies at 85 Lacewell served in his role with the Cowboys from 1992-2004. "Zach Harrison has the longest arms (36 1/4 inches) of any defensive linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine since 2014. This came to a header when the pro guys made it clear they had no intention of drafting Sharrif Floyd in the last draft.Remember how Broaddus was up in arms for weeks about how the Cowboys scouting department had been slighted in the war room? David Moore, Cowboys Insider. You know it's officially draft season when the NFL Scouting Combine rolls around, and that's exactly where we find ourselves this week, as more than 300 of this year . Coaching staff Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also carries the GM title, with son Stephen Jones the second in command as executive vice president of personnel. When the Cowboys visited the White House, the first person president Bill Clinton shook hands with was Lacewell. Walter Juliff is an exception, spending parts of four decades in the Cowboys' scouting department. After the third time of calling him Little Danny, members of the Cowboys party hustled Lacewell out the door. 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Longtime #Cowboys area scout Jim Abrams will join the #Raiders as their new Director of College Scouting. @fishsports on @1053thefan: "Let Will McClay run this draft. He also graded the top NFL unrestricted free agents at all positions, additionally managing any special projects with the general manager. "Losing all that experience, what we've got to do is find young guys who hit the ground running. Sign up for the Cowboys Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. But he was one of the few employees who were part of the organization before Jerry Jones purchased the franchise. One person after another that day walked up to Lacewell and embraced him. Bo Taliaferro from Michigan State and Eric Ellingworth from the New York Jets have been also been added. When I look at McClay's old title, Director of Football Research, I am not sure exactly what that was. Assistant Director of College Scouting. He would tell insightful and hilarious stories about Jones, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer and others while always poking fun at himself in the process. We put guys into the system, we show them how to look for it, what to look for and how to do things. More importantly, I believe, it is an attempt to get long-term solutions in place. Neil Stratton (@InsideTheLeague) May 3, 2019. Oklahoma would win six Big Eight titles and two national championships during Lacewells second stint with the university. Vital also won a Super Bowl as a player for the Washington Redskins. Since he always referred to Snyder as Little Danny' in conversations with friends, he figured it was fine to do to his face. Now the senior advisor to general manager Mike Maycock in Oakland, Juliff isn't the only hit to the Cowboys scouting department this offseason. A native of Dallas, Taylor spent the past 20 years writing for The Dallas Morning News, where he covered high schools sports, the Texas Rangers and spent 11 seasons covering the Dallas Cowboys . The 55-year-old McClay has been with the Dallas organization since 2002 when he was on the staff of the Arena League's Dallas Desperados. "You will absolutely love him,'' Parker told Juliff. "But I've also got reports on the guys I missed on. Ross Wuensche will be the West Coast scout to replace Abrams. He waited until seconds before the opening kickoff. The Cowboys starting right tackle will be returning in 2023 after recovering from injury. Dallas Cowboys Draft 2014 Scouting Report: Ra'Shede Hageman; Assist. Such a confident, special man. Director: Texas, USA nxx@dallascowboys.com: Everett Wilder: Creative Director: Texas, USA . That position stays in the background. Jets after breaking into the NFL scouting ranks with the Cleveland Browns in 1991, originally hired by Bill Belichick. #Cowboys name Lionel Vital the Director of College Scouting. You know what that means. MIKE SMITHAtlanta FalconsFormer Head Coach DAVID CULLEYHouston TexansFormer Head Coach JOE DECAMILLISLos Angeles RamsSpecial Teams Coordinator DIRK KO. Early years [ edit] Read more below. It's a lot to overcome. If not, expect a major, possibly total changeover of the staff. 5 years 6 months. CEO 4 of 4 I will listen on occasion, when someone has something to tell me that I dont already know.. Read More ** FILE ** Larry Lacewell, the Dallas Cowboys director of scouting who has been drafting for the team since 1993, poses in his office at Valley Ranch, April 11, 2000, in Irving, Texas. Do not duplicate in any form without permission of the Dallas Cowboys. If you wanted to talk football, Larry would talk about it. You had to do it.. He was a coach in the high school and college ranks in the state before becoming a scout for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In one of the best drafts in recent history, the Cowboys certainly fared well. #Cowboys Sr. In this case, turn the draft into a consistent, understandable process. Get the latest news. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Who is available? Stops at Arkansas A&M (62-63), Kilgore Junior College (64-65), Oklahoma (66), Wichita State (67) and Iowa State (68) followed. All rights reserved. In 2022 Vaughn was elevated to assistant director of college scouting where he will work closer with Will McClay and the top decision makers on identifying future talent for the Cowboys roster. This is certainly another setback for the former third-round pick from 2016. The Cowboys dont seem content to simply add key personnel pieces on the field, they are doing so in the front office as well. Former Houston college scouting director Jon Carr will assume the same position in New York, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.Carr spent over a decade with the Texans, rising from . Vital had two stints with the Baltimore Ravens, the most recent from 2005-07 where he scouted schools across the country as a national scout, concentrating on defensive lineman. That followed a successful college career that saw him coach for seven different universities and win two national titles. Running backs/run game coordinator - Jeff Blasko. "Usually when you're a Cowboy scout, what they say in the league is you're a Cowboy for life,'' McClay said. That's the longest arm measurement for any player at the combine since 2020." Do you ever quit talking? Jones asked, shaking his head. In early May, they added former Cowboys running back Tashard Choice to the coaching staff. When Jeff Ireland left for Miami after the 2007 season, Ciskowski was promoted . He paused for a split-second and stared straight at Jones. ", @bryanbroaddus on @1053thefan: "Will McClay will get everybody on the same page BEFORE the draft.". "That guy there,'' Switzer said, pointing to Juliff. Bill Parcells was sick and tired of me.. The Floyd Kerfluffle, as it is now formally known in Cowboys lore, was about as clear a sign of dysfunction on day one of the draft as can be. SOONERS Larry Lacewell, former OU football assistant & Dallas Cowboys scouting director, dies at 85 Berry Tramel Oklahoman View Comments 0:05 2:11 Barry Switzer and Larry Lacewell met at the YMCA swimming pool in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1953. 7. Be the smartest Cowboys fan. Ciskowski originally joined the team in '92 and headed the team's draft from '08-'13, during which time @dallascowboys drafted @DezBryant, Sean Lee, Tyron Smith, @DeMarcoMurray, Travis Frederick & many other top players. But losing two long-time scouts to another team is also an affirmation of the growing respect this scouting department has earned around the league. "I told them it's just like the players. 23,380 Messages. "I was a nervous wreck," Juliff said. My football philosophy.Defense, Defense, Defense and Run The Ball! McClay was born on October 13, 1966 in Memphis, Tennessee but he grew up outside of Houston, Texas. Signal Hire. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The Dallas Cowboys named Lionel Vital the team's director of college scouting on Wednesday. Juliff told both players what the referee said. ", @bryanbroaddus on @1053thefan: "What you will see with McClay is a different direction: He knows what it takes to build team to compete. We went to work, got the homework on him, Jones said. He had stints with both organizations as well as the Falcons prior to now. Vaughn earned four letters as a linebacker at Murray State, winning Ohio Valley Conference titles in 1995 and 1996. Those three represent a loss of 88 years in scouting experience. The departures of Juliff, Abrams and Ciskowski dramatically shake up the Dallas scouting department. He could rule the cocktail hour or put on a coaching clinic.. Before coaching in Austin, Vaughn coached cornerbacks at Memphis for two seasons (2012-13). Although Lacewell is about to turn 68 and has been planning to retire for months, his departure can be considered the first of many changes for the . Dallas Cowboys Jan 2004 - Jul 202218 years 7 months Evaluation of top college prospects across the country. The Cowboys' draft has provided plenty of fuel for critics through the years. In 2006 McClay earned the honor and was chosen by the other 18 coaches in the AFL as Coach of the Year. In 2015, he was named Senior Director of Pro/College Scouting. That's what made his recent departure for Oakland so jarring. Vital moved to Baltimore with the Browns for the Ravens inaugural 1996 season as a college scout. Juliff was born in San Angelo, ran track at Angelo State and went on to the University of Texas to earn his M.B.A. Vital scouted the southeast region from 1997-99 for the N.Y. Dallas Cowboys want another playmaker on offense. Lacewell was inducted in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 96. That earned him a spot on the sidelines. The 55-year-old McClay has been with the Dallas organization since 2002 when he was on the staff of the Arena League's Dallas Desperados. McClay also was a scout for the Cowboys during five. Now the assistant general manager in New Orleans, his congratulations on the move captured the sentiment of peers around the league. With frustration increasing over the inability of the team to get into the playoffs, people want to see something done. He had people skills. 2023 Dallas Cowboys. Lacewell suffered a stroke in September of 16 but was able to visit The Star a few months later in a wheelchair. The line of authority, or chain of command, on the personnel side now seems to run from Jerry Jones (the ultimate boss of everything) through Stephen Jones, McClay, and Ciskowski, with the college and pro scouting departments both reporting to Ciskowski. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science. He left two years later to go to Arkansas State. I was born and raised a Cowboys fan since 1985, and still represent the Boys in my hometown of Houston, Texas. The director of college and pro scouting would make one point after another after another. He accepted a football scholarship from Rice University. He drove a Cadillac and joked about how he made the Selmons, Rod Shoate, Randy Hughes and other Oklahoma defensive players great. 91.1. A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Vaughn and his wife, Marquette, have a son, Chris II, and two daughters, Cienna Marquette and Camryn McNeil. Well, the most obvious thing is that there was a clear disconnect between the college scouting department and the pro department. His college career ended as the defensive coordinator under Johnny Majors at Tennessee for two years before joining the Cowboys in 92. The Dallas Cowboys announced the official hiring of the long-time front office executive. Their due diligence led them to reach out to Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome for their opinions of Vital as well. He learned so much about the sport. He's old. The recently hired Klein Kubiak will take Wuensche's former spot as the Midwest scout. As for the reason McClay now has responsibility for the draft board, OCC shared his thoughts on it. I saw it. Who is available? During his time in Baltimore, Vital was awarded the inaugural Fritz Pollard Alliance Scouting Award, which is given to the top African-American scout in each conference. Director of Scouting: Demoted: Assistant Director of Player Personnel: Chris Hall: College Scouting Coordinator: n.c. . Jerry Jones told Lacewell it was embarrassing. Watching film, talking football and trading stories with Larry Lacewell. Jeff Ireland is one of the people who worked alongside Juliff during his 31 years with the Cowboys. This year, the idea seems to be to take a measured approach.