Demarcus Lawrence
Age: 27
Position: Defensive end
Career Highlights: 2x Pro Bowler, 2x First-Team All-Pro, Second-Team All-Pro

“It’s all about technique, fundamental football and hitting. Period.”

Truer words cannot be spoken coming from the sack master beast of the Dallas Cowboys, Demarcus “Tank” Lawrence, who ranks 13 on our list of Top 20 current DFW athletes. 

In 2014, it was clear the Dallas Cowboys needed to restructure defensively after waiving the franchise sack leader, DeMarcus Ware and losing key players like Jason Hatcher and Jay Ratliff. Dallas addressed the defensive line in the second round of the draft when they decided to trade with Washington for the 34th overall pick that landed them Boise State defensive end, Demarcus Lawrence. 

The beginning of Lawrence’s career in Dallas was less than ideal. After suffering a foot injury in training camp, the rookie was placed on injury reserve until making his NFL debut in week 9 against Arizona. Lawrence’s significant impact on the Cowboys defense came into fruition in 2015, when he racked up a total of 55 tackles, 8 sacks and thus kicking off his campaign of becoming one of the league’s best in the DE position. 

Since then, the six-year veteran has grown and matured into a defensive leader for the ‘boys with a career-total of 201 tackles, 35.5 sacks and a freshly signed five-year $105 million contract under his belt, making him the highest-paid player in Cowboys history (for now, Dak). 

Tank is also the first Cowboys pass rusher to deliver back-to-back double digit sack seasons since Demarcus Ware. Commitment and grit are two qualities Lawrence carries abundantly. He has remained one of Dallas’ most dominant defenders and has consistently proven the value he brings to this Cowboys roster. 

Embracing the “Hot Boyz” mentality has been inevitable, and the Cowboys defense would simply lack a certain terror without LawN90rder. 

DSF TOP 20 CURRENT DFW ATHLETES:
20. John Klingberg | 19. Skylar Diggins-Smith | 18. Alexander Radulov | 17. Tyron Smith | 16. Miro Heiskanen | 15. Travis Frederick | 14. Zack Martin | 13. Demarcus Lawrence