FRISCO, Texas — DeMarvion Overshown has shown he possesses the speed to rival that of his teammate Micah Parsons, a two-time All-Pro pass rusher. Now, the second-year linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys has also achieved a memorable play to cement his growing reputation. On Thanksgiving, Overshown made headlines with a stunning 23-yard interception return for a touchdown against the New York Giants. This moment epitomizes the potential that teammates like Parsons envisioned for him after Overshown’s rookie season was cut short by a knee injury.

Parsons remarked, “I always said from the start, he reminds me of someone,” referring to the distinctive identity Overshown has cultivated on the field. “He might not be 11 yet—that title belongs to me—but I appreciate his unique style. He isn’t trying to emulate me.”

Overshown, who is hinting at a return to wearing his college number previously used at Texas, currently dons number 13 with the Cowboys, and he has an opportunity to shine again as Dallas (5-7) prepares for a significant home game against Cincinnati (4-8) on Monday night. “He’s right; I’m not number 11, I’m 13,” Overshown expressed confidently. “And that’s all that’s necessary. We’ve got an 11, and we’ve got a 13.”

Originating from a small Texas town, Overshown remains grounded despite his burgeoning star power. Little did the Cowboys know they were drafting him in the third round last year when he had suffered a knee injury during the preseason, rendering him unable to play his rookie season. Throughout his recovery, he maintained a positive outlook, always ready to share his experiences with the media.

Overshown stated, “The person you see in front of the camera during challenges is the same me throughout my entire journey. There are certainly tough days, but I choose to focus on the potential tomorrow holds instead.”

Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy views the setback of not playing during the regular season differently. He emphasizes that it can benefit rookies in ways that are not immediately apparent. “He still grew, whether he knew it or not,” McCarthy noted. “Every rookie goes through a learning curve in their first year. The following year’s expectations become much clearer. Overshown has been a consistently mature player for us.”

Having spent five years at Texas and turning 23 shortly before his injury, Overshown understands that his age brings urgency to return and perform at an elevated level. “While I may have had a year off, it wasn’t a month of leisure,” he explained. “Returning, I’m expected to showcase the knowledge and experience of a player in year two, not someone in year one. I used that time wisely, immersing myself off the field to prepare as if I had played last year.”

His minimal playing time in the early part of the season was largely due to the Cowboys’ game strategy against New Orleans, where he only logged 18 snaps in a heavy defeat. However, since then, Overshown has significantly increased his contributions, actively participating in every defensive play across several games, coinciding with a resurgence in team performance after a five-game losing streak.

Mike Zimmer, the new defensive coordinator, mentioned that presenting Overshown with a solid footing in a specific personnel group was vital during the initial stages of his comeback. He highlighted Overshown’s unique combination of speed and strength, stating, “When he reaches the football, he plays with a physicality that’s hard to ignore. We want him on the field as much as possible.”

When asked about the possibility of a partnership with Overshown after the Cowboys selected him, Parsons hinted at the exciting chemistry they might build together. He expressed a desire to expand his role off the line, as he has done earlier in his career. “You never really know what will happen,” Parsons posited while smiling. “It’s all about us together.”

At present, Overshown plans to leverage the attention Parsons commands at the line of scrimmage to create opportunities for himself and the defense. He is aware that respect for his gameplay is growing as he sees that he and Parsons are now the team’s leading sack contributors with Parsons at 6.5 and Overshown at five. “Things will only get better for our defense when they start paying attention to number 13,” he noted. “Micah would agree—it transitions to a game where they can’t just focus on 11 all day without considering the rest of us.”

With highlight plays backing him up, Overshown is on track to prove himself as an essential part of the Cowboys’ evolving defense.