Former North Texas running back Lance Dunbar runs the ball against the Miami Dolphins defense on Wednesday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. (Associated Press/Sharon Ellman)
Former North Texas running back Lance Dunbar probably knew that he needed to make a big impression on Cowboys officials to ensure that he would have a spot on the roster — or the practice squad — this season in Dallas’ final game before its season opener.
It’s hard to imagine what more he could have done in the Cowboys 30-13 win over the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday night.
Dunbar broke free for a 58-yard touchdown run and finished with 105 yards on 15 carries.
There was a lot of talk during the TV broadcast tonight about how Dunbar is a little too small to be an NFL running back and that he is probably not the type of contributor on special teams that a player with a little more size might be.
What Dunbar is, though, is explosive. He showed that tonight when he had to. UNT’s all-time leading rusher displayed great balance on his long touchdown run after nearly being cut down at the line of scrimmage.
It’s hard to imagine that Dunbar won’t be on an NFL roster this year now.
That’s great news for UNT.
Dan McCarney has pointed out that it is pretty amazing that UNT has had one guy picked in the NFL draft in the last decade and a half (and he’s right). Brian Waters, Brad Kassell and Patrick Cobbs made it as free agents and did pretty well for themselves.
It will only help UNT as a program if Dunbar can follow the path they blazed.
High school players want to know that they are going to have a chance to play in the NFL if they sign on with FBS schools.
Dunbar wasn’t drafted, but after tonight, it looks like he might be in the NFL this season.
There couldn’t be better news for UNT, or a better guy to see capitalize on his opportunity.