COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys continued to show their interest in former Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Kingsley Keke Tuesday at A&M's pro day.
Cowboys defensive assistant Andre Gurode supervised the defensive lineman drills, and spoke with the Richmond, Texas, product.
"They liked how I did today," Keke said. "Just got to keep going from there and show that I'm consistent and show that I can continue to play at a high level. That's all I want to do."
Keke, who had a formal meeting with the Cowboys at the NFL combine earlier in March, continues to catch the interest of a club that won't begin to pick in the 2019 NFL draft until the second round. Keke says he has a visit scheduled with the team.
Where the club sees Keke fitting into their defensive line rotation is as a 3-technique defensive tackle, a role that the 6-3, 288-pound defensive lineman would relish.
"That's something I know I can come in right now and be a difference maker with them, getting better throughout the training camps and the rookie mini-camps and just learning the defense," said Keke. "I know I can be something special and ready to get there and get to work."
The Cowboys added defensive lineman Christian Covington from the Houston Texans on a one-year contract. The club also has tackles Maliek Collins, the resident 3-technique, Daniel Ross, and Antwaun Woods to work the inside of the trenches.
Keke produced 7.5 sacks with 11 tackles for loss in 2018. Where he draws his inspiration from is watching the tape of newly signed New England Patriots defensive lineman Michael Bennett, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.
"I like watching their games," Keke said. "Their games are really good. Those guys can play and are physical and come out the hips, they can win. They attack edges on the guards. They make them move their feet. All guards really like to do is have you come up there and bull them. I like to come up there and make them move their feet. That's something that I'm working on that I see in their game."
While Keke has gained five pounds since the combine, he doesn't worry too much about it and will add or drop whatever weight a team asks of him, though he has proven to play effectively at 285.
The Aggie was pleased to go through drills one last time in College Station.
"I feel like it's a relief," said Keke. "I'm back home. Doing drills on your home turf basically. It felt like second nature to me, so I felt pretty good out there today."
Do you think that the Cowboys will reverse their recent trends and select a defensive tackle in the NFL Draft and, if so, in which round should they take one? Share your thoughts with Mark on Twitter @therealmarklane.
