Ezekiel Elliott impresses for Cowboys in first preseason game

Zeke makes his NFL (preseason) debut

With the preseason working its way into Week 3, it was finally time for the Dallas Cowboys’ to unleash Ezekiel Elliott, who missed the first week of preseason scrimmages with a hamstring injury, on opposing NFL defenses.

First up were the Seattle Seahawks. Quickly they learned that Zeke is, indeed, a beast. On Twitter, the NFL compiled all of Zeke’s best moves from Thursday night. They include rushing, some blocking and a huge lowering of the shoulder on NFL defensive star Kam Chancellor.

Granted it’s still preseason, but seeing Zeke keep on doing Zeke things makes it all apparent that another member of the scarlet and gray is on his road to becoming an NFL star.

When you’re lowering the shoulder just to get a few extra yards in the preseason, you can't help but imagine what it’ll be like playing the Cowboys and Elliott deep into the regular season.

Elliott ended the game with seven carries and 48 yards.

"The second time, you know I'm bringing that wood. I was a little surprised the first time, but he's got a lot of courage for that. I'll give it to him. But if it was a full game, it would have been a bloodbath.”

– Kam Chancellor in a story written on by Cameron DaSilva (FOX Sports)

Mentioned before, the battle of Chancellor and Zeke was the highlight from Thursday’s preseason action.

After the game, the Seattle star defensive back spoke on Elliott lowering his shoulder (and the boom) early in the first quarter.

Chancellor said that he commended Elliott on fighting for the extra yardage by going straight through him, but acknowledged that he was out to ‘have fun’ during the game, according to the article written by DeSilva of FOX Sports.

The best part of the article was came from Chancellor’s sentiment that if he had to go up against Elliott in the regular season, then it was going to end up being a ‘bloodbath’.

For those keeping track: Elliott garnered a pretty good preseason display with his rushing, and then had a star opposing player comment on his desire to fight for every yard postgame.

However, there was a negative from Zeke’s first game -- and it happened before the team put on their pads to take on the Seahawks.

“But it's not good. It's just not good. It's just not good."

– Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on Elliott's trip to a marijuana dispensary, as reported by Todd Archer (ESPN)

While Elliott apparently didn't buy any of the herbal supplements in the city of the Space Needle, the negative press generated caused the Cowboys’ to make a statement about his rookie star-to-be.

Marijuana is a banned substance in the NFL. The fact that Zeke was anywhere close to the herb will naturally attract the attention of the press — combine that with being a No. 4 draft pick and being a member of America’s Team, the Cowboys, and you have the ingredients for a story that will be blown out of proportion.

All will likely be forgotten the next time Elliott rushes up and down defenses, however. The Cowboys final preseason contest will be against the Houston Texans, an in-state rival, on Sept. 1.

The last time Elliott went up against a rival, he was part of an Ohio State squad that faced Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. There, he posted 214 yards and two touchdowns en route to the win.

“It’s always been a priority of ours to offer affordable opportunities for families and fans to experience Buckeye athletics,”

– Gene Smith in a press release on on “Bucks On Us” campaign, as reported by Hannah Smith (The Lantern)

Back to Ohio State athletics.

In an article by The Lantern, the “Bucks On Us” campaign is aimed at making athletic events free for people that aren’t students at OSU. Over 20 athletic programs offer complimentary attendance to events, which even includes free parking.

While football and basketball aren’t part of the program, there are over 100 other athletic events where people will be able to support the scarlet and gray. Some of the sports that offer free attendance are women’s hockey and men’s volleyball, according to the article.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to catch the Buckeye’s men’s volleyball team in action, as they are fresh off a national championship season.

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