NFL.COM FEATURE — “EDGE OF EVOLUTION: HOW MARSHAWN KNEELAND HAS EMERGED AS THE COWBOYS’ NEW ENFORCER ON THE RIGHT SIDE”BY DALLAS COWBOYS INSIDER STAFF


A New Power on the Edge

When Coach Cody Hirsch took over the Dallas Cowboys, one of his primary goals was clear: rebuild the trenches with youth, hunger, and relentless energy. The defensive front was already headlined by promising names — rookie standout Donovan Ezeiruaku on the left, veteran Kenny Clark anchoring the middle — but the right side of the line still needed a true difference-maker.

Now, midway through the 2025 PML season, that answer has emerged in Marshawn Kneeland, the second-year defensive end who’s gone from rotational depth piece to full-time starter and tone-setter for one of the league’s most disruptive defensive fronts.

“He’s been the spark we’ve needed opposite Donovan,” Hirsch said. “You can see the confidence, the power, the technique coming together. He’s becoming one of those players you have to game-plan for.”


From Rotation to Relentless

A year ago, Kneeland was fighting for snaps — a situational edge rusher whose job was to generate third-down pressure and give the starters a breather. This year, he’s earned the starting right-end role outright, and he’s made the most of every opportunity.

Through 10 games, he’s already surpassed his sack total from last season, racking up consistent quarterback pressures, drive-killing tackles for loss, and a handful of forced fumbles that have flipped momentum in Dallas’s favor.

His emergence didn’t happen overnight. The offseason was spent refining the technical details that separate good rushers from great ones — hand placement, counter moves, balance, and finish.

“Marshawn’s always had the tools,” said defensive line coach Aden Durde. “He’s explosive and powerful, but what’s impressed me most is his discipline. He’s learned how to use those tools. He doesn’t rush blind anymore — every move has a purpose.”


Learning from the Best

Kneeland credits much of his growth to the veterans around him — particularly Kenny Clark, whose mentorship has accelerated his development. Clark’s leadership in the film room and practice field has helped Kneeland improve at reading protections and recognizing when to shift from speed to power.

“Kenny taught me patience,” Kneeland said. “He told me not every rush has to be a win right away — sometimes you’re setting up the next one. Once I learned that, my whole game opened up.”

That patience has shown on Sundays. Instead of over-pursuing or getting washed out of plays, Kneeland now controls his lane, squeezes the pocket, and forces quarterbacks into uncomfortable spots — often right into Ezeiruaku’s waiting arms.

“They complement each other perfectly,” Hirsch said. “Donovan’s that lightning-fast edge on the left, Marshawn’s the power-and-control on the right. Together, they’ve given us balance we didn’t have before.”


The Turning Point: Week 6 vs. Kansas City

The moment that solidified Kneeland’s place in the starting lineup came in a primetime showdown with the Chiefs. Facing one of the league’s best offensive lines and a quarterback who rarely takes sacks, Kneeland played the best game of his young career:

  • 2 sacks
  • 3 QB hits
  • 1 forced fumble
  • Multiple pressures that forced hurried throws

Every time the Cowboys needed a stop, No. 97 seemed to be involved. His combination of strength and leverage overwhelmed Kansas City’s right tackle, collapsing the edge and forcing Mahomes to bail out of the pocket repeatedly.

“That was his coming-out party,” said teammate Damone Clark. “You could feel it on the sideline — Marshawn wasn’t just holding his own, he was dominating.”

Since that night, his confidence — and his production — have soared.


A Technician in the Making

What’s made Kneeland’s rise so impressive is the polish he’s added to his natural power. Once viewed as a pure bull-rusher, he’s developed a full arsenal of counter moves: a deadly inside swim, a long-arm to control space, and a rip-and-flatten technique that’s given offensive tackles nightmares.

He’s also become one of the Cowboys’ most dependable edge setters in the run game. His low pad level and leverage allow him to take on pulling guards and tight ends without losing ground — a vital trait in Coach Hirsch’s gap-control system.

“He’s not just chasing sacks,” said Clark. “He’s playing the run, holding contain, doing all the little things. That’s what makes him so valuable.”

The film tells the same story: a defender who wins with both intelligence and intensity, who can collapse a pocket as easily as he can chase down a running back in space.


Earning His Spot — and the Locker Room’s Respect

Inside The Star, players talk about how Kneeland’s mindset changed the moment he was told he’d be the starter. He doubled his film time, sharpened his diet and recovery habits, and started mentoring rookies the same way veterans had mentored him.

“Once he got that nod, he took ownership,” said Hirsch. “He’s become one of the loudest voices in our defensive meetings — always asking questions, always pushing everyone to be better.”

That professionalism has made him a role model for younger players like Shemar James and Shavon Revel Jr., who have looked to Kneeland as an example of how hard work can translate into opportunity.

“You watch Marshawn, and you see what accountability looks like,” said James. “He earned that starting job, and he’s making the most of it.”


The Chemistry with Ezeiruaku

On the field, the partnership between Marshawn Kneeland and Donovan Ezeiruaku has become one of the PML’s most intriguing young duos. Their contrasting styles have created constant pressure for opposing offenses — one winning with speed and bend, the other with power and leverage.