OXNARD, Calif. — For the first time at training camp in Southern California, the pads came on on Tuesday morning, as the physicality ramped up along with the intensity – especially in the trenches.
And that's exactly where the spotlight was with first-round pick Tyler Guyton being one of three drafted rookies on the offensive line going up against a defensive line that is starting to see its depth get tested both in the interior and on the exterior.
With the eyeballs glued to the action up front, Guyton turned in a strong day of work that featured multiple wins against Micah Parsons and second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland both in 11-on-11 action and one-on-one drills. The day remained consistent for the Oklahoma product as he walked off the field with a huge first day in pads.
"I've been truly impressed," third-year Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith said. "It's not very often you find a human being who measures how he does. He's 6'7", like 330 and has light feet who can just move and bully dudes. When he becomes confident and gets the playbook down and all that stuff, the sky truly is the limit for him and his development."
While there was some fatigue up front – as with anybody getting going at training camp – Smith said Guyton battled all day and it paid off with a stellar performance on the field in Oxnard.
"He did great," he said. "He worked through it. There was some fatigue there with everybody, me included, but he worked through it. He did great in terms of just working his technique, in terms of giving effort. It's a good day to build on."
Smith has been impressed with his new running mate to his left in the short few months that they have spent together, as Guyton's confidence has been the biggest factor that has allowed him to hit the ground running at training camp.
"One thing I will say from when I met him, he's a confident guy," Smith said. "He knows the tools he has, he knows how rare they are. It's just a matter of time before he solidifies things and gets playing at that true elite, elite level."
Guyton and Smith will return to the field with the rest of the team on Wednesday for the second of five consecutive practice days in Oxnard. The team will face off in their first preseason game in just 12 days against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium which could serve as Guyton's first game action in a Cowboys uniform.
