Damien Wilson was sitting with his family in Mississippi on Saturday afternoon eating chips and watching television when his phone started buzzing.
The former Gophers linebacker didn’t recognize the number, but when he answered, a familiar sports figure was on the line: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
“I just had to ask myself, ‘Was it real?’” Wilson said. “It’s an honor to be able to play for the Cowboys.”
A day after tight end Maxx Williams was taken 55th overall in the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas selected Wilson at No. 127 in the fourth round, jumpstarting a big day for the Gophers.