T. Boone Pickens Cowboys: Pickens discussed Oklahoma State running back Joseph Randle with Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones.
The Cowboys chose Randle in the fifth-round as a likely second running back, a back-up to DeMarco Murray.
“We had a lot of great information about his entire Oklahoma State [career]," Jones said, according to Dallas News. “I respect and know the coach over there really well. Boone’s one of my three or four best friends there are, and Boone gets you some information over there.”
Randle rushed for 1,417 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, but lasted until the fifth round because of a thumb injury.
“He’s been a real productive player as a runner,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “Not only as a runner, but as a receiver, and he certainly has all the physical traits you want.”
The Cowboys needed a second running back because last year’s backup Felix Jones is a free agent. Murray, the starter, missed nine games over the last two years.
T. Boone Pickens is an oil and gas executive who has a net worth of about $1.4 billion. Pickens has donated more than $400 million to Oklahoma State, where he attended college.
