Dallas Cowboys rookie running back duo Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah are catching the attention of the coaching staff.

As we turn for training camp, the Dallas Cowboys’ running back room remains a fascinating watch.

Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams currently loom as the top two on the depth chart, but as we know, at this time of year, that depth chart is fluid.

Plus, we add in Deuce Vaughn, who appears to be fighting for his NFL career, and rookies Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah, who make up the room.

After the draft, head coach Brian Schottenheimer stated both could be starters; otherwise, they wouldn’t have drafted them. And now Schotty’s words on Blue and Mafah reflect that.

Dallas Cowboys sign top rookie in minicamp notebookDallas Cowboys sign top rookie in minicamp notebook

“Those two young guys, they have a lot to learn in a good way,” Schottenheimer said. “They’re used to, most college guys are, they get to line scrimmage really fast, and they look over and they look for signs, there’s guys holding up boards and signals. Now they’re in a huddle and doing things like that, so a lot of it is you got to learn how to break down these lengthy calls and okay what matters to me and what doesn’t, and I think those guys have done great.”

Should we also list all of the “name” free agent running backs who have slowly moved off the shelf and onto teams? Amid a continuation of swirling rumors and criticisms – “Why didn’t they sign Nick Chubb? Or J.K. Dobbins? Now should they trade for Dameon Pierce or Kenneth Walker?” – the plan is for training camp to give Blue and Mafah the opportunity to continue impressing the coaching staff while competing with the two vets.

Sanders has been flashing this offseason, so too Williams, and now the two rookies are starting to make a little noise. Now, we aren’t proclaiming the pair to be anything yet, and they will have to take their game up a level in Oxnard, which seems well within their wheelhouse.

But at the moment? The run game is in a vastly different position than it was a year ago, and it might be propped up by two rookies who will have everything to prove.