The Dallas Cowboys knew what they were getting into when they drafted former Baylor basketball star Rico Gathers with their final selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. Not having played organized football since junior high, Gathers was attempting to make the difficult leap from the hardwood to the field, on a professional level.
The Cowboys drafted Gathers in the sixth round (217th overall) with their eyes wide open, fully understanding that he was a developmental player. The then 22-year old’s amazing athletic ability was simply too impressive to ignore. Gathers spent his entire rookie campaign on the Cowboys practice squad.