Western Michigan DE Marshawn Kneeland selected 56th overall by Dallas Cowboys in NFL Draft
Western Michigan defensive end Marshawn Kneeland saw his NFL dream come to fruition on Friday night at the 2024 NFL Draft in his home state of Michigan. He was selected 55th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round.
He is the second MAC player off the board, following Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell who landed 22nd overall to the Philadelphia Eagles. Kneeland is the third Western Michigan player drafted on day two in the past three seasons (D’Wayne Eskridge 56th overall in 2021 and Skyy Moore 54th overall in 2022), and he extends the program’s streak to four consecutive years producing an NFL Draft pick — which is currently best in the MAC.
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Kneeland’s former Western Michigan teammate Braden Fiske went 39th overall to the Los Angeles Rams. However, Fiske transferred to Florida State for the 2023 season, making Kneeland the first defensive lineman drafted directly out of Western Michigan since Keion Adams went in the seventh round in 2017. He is the highest selected Bronco defensive lineman since Jason Babin was a first round pick in 2004.
Kneeland spent five seasons at Western Michigan from 2019-23, making his starting debut during the abbreviated 2020 campaign. He started three contests that year and recorded 23 tackles and 2.0 sacks, springboarding himself into a full-time starter for the 2021 season. In 2021, Kneeland elevated his game to produce 4.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 32 tackles for an 8-5 Quick Lane Bowl champion Western Michigan squad.
The defensive end only played nine games in 2022 but set a new personal-best with 10.0 tackles for loss in addition to 37 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and 1.0 sack. He concluded his college career in 2023 with 4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, and a career-best 57 tackles as an elite run stopper. In recognition of his effort last fall, Kneeland was named to the All-MAC Second Team.
Following the season, he was one of two MAC players (along with Mitchell) to earn an invite to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL and NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, IN. Kneeland proved his mettle in one-on-one reps as an edge rusher at the Senior Bowl, recording a tackle and a share of a sack in the main event. In the Combine, Kneeland further boosted his draft stock with elite showings in vertical jump (35.5 inches), broad jump (9 feet, 11 inches), shuttle run (4.18 seconds), and 3-cone drill (7.02 seconds). The 6’3”, 267 pound defensive end also graded well in the 40-yard dash with a 4.75-second time.
Kneeland is the second Dallas Cowboys player selected in the 2024 draft, alongside Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton. He joins a Cowboys organization fresh off an NFC East title and playoff appearance in 2023. Dallas possesses plenty of veteran talent at the edge rusher positions which should help Kneeland transition into the NFL. DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons are currently the starters in the Cowboys’ 4-3 scheme, and Kneeland will likely operate behind those 2023 Pro Bowlers in his first year playing professional football.
