FRISCO, Texas – A few hours before his alma mater Texas defeated Texas A&M in a much-anticipated rivalry game Saturday evening, Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown finally went through his phone notifications.

The 24-year-old Arp native estimated he received more than 600 congratulatory messages in the aftermath of his electric pick six he recorded during Dallas’ victory over the New York Giants on Thanksgiving Day.

“It was so many messages, I was trying to read them all,” Overshown said Wednesady. “I’m pretty sure I got to a majority of them, but my phones were going crazy.”

He continued: “When you make a play like that on this stage in a game that you’ve been dreaming of playing in for a long time, you get to reap your reward.

It makes me feel good that all the work I’ve been putting in is paying off…I think just for myself, I’ve been hard on myself my whole career. So through my time in high school, college, I made plays consistently throughout my career, and it kind of [became] normal, like [my team] expects this out of me.

Overshown, a 2023 third-round draft pick, missed his entire rookie season with a torn ACL. Throughout his lengthy rehab process, his mental strength was tested, but he always imagined being back in the spotlight.

Everything didn’t click immediately for Overshown. Over the first three weeks of the season, Overshown logged just 50.1% of defensive snaps, including a season-low 18 snaps against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2.

He also had occasional mistakes – from being too aggressive in his tackling technique to overrunning ball carriers – pop up on film..

But Overshown has worked diligently to play with more control and awareness alongside fellow linebackers Eric Kendricks and Micah Parsons.

Those specific traits were on full display during his pick six of Giants quarterback Drew Lock, in which he powered through running back Devin Singletary, tipped Lock’s attempted screen pass into the air, and tracked down the football, resulting in one of the loudest applause from a home crowd this season.

Now in the middle of a breakout season, Overshown is second on the team in tackles (84) and sacks (five). He also has 17 pressures and 10 hurries.

“He’s a guy with a lot of speed, physicality, tackles well,” defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said of Overshown. “I feel like he continues to get better and better, and the more ways that we can use him the better it is.

“When he first came back, we were trying to get him settled in with one personnel group. He’s proven that he’s one of the better players that we have…We’re trying to use him in as many ways as we can, he’s got a unique asset of strength and speed and power.”

Kendricks, a 10-year veteran, labeled Overshown as “one of the best” linebackers he’s ever been around. Coach Mike McCarthy said this is just “the tip of the iceberg” for Overshown.

“His anticipation, instincts, really to get control of the football,” McCarthy said. ”I’ve been so impressed with him and his consistency in his approach. That’s just going to keep putting him in the position to progress and frankly, will give him more opportunities because he obviously can make plays from the edge.”

Overshown hopes to make more highlight plays Monday night, when the Cowboys host the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium (7:15 p.m., ESPN/WFAA 8).

The Cowboys have won two straight games, but by and large, it has been a season full of frustration for both teams. Cincinnati enters the Week 14 matchup with a 4-8 record, although the Bengals still boast a potent offense led by the NFL’s passing leader (Joe Burrow, 3,337 yards) and receiving leader (Ja’Marr Chase, 1,142 yards).

With the focus on him brighter than ever, Overshown is doing his best to literally block out the spotlight. Earlier in the season, Overshown started wearing sunglasses from inside the team facility. He described the notion as part of his personality.

“This is who I am,” he said while sporting dark shades in front of his locker stall. “I wear my Red Dirt hats and my sunglasses. Ain’t nothing to it. I’m a simple man.”

Overshown insisted his current focus is stacking more reps. Despite missing his entire rookie season, Overshown labeled his current level of play as a ‘Year 3’ player rather than ‘Year 2.’ Could that mean more highlight moments, like his pick six, are part of his future?

“This one was definitely one of my favorite– my best plays ever,” he said.