The official visits from prospective NFL draft picks to team facilities ended Friday, and most of the pro days on college campuses have concluded. With a week to go before the NFL draft, here are some key storylines related to area prospects and the Cowboys that we have gleaned over the past month:

SMU’s wideout factory

SMU has developed into a wide receiver school. From Jerry LeVias in the 1960s to the current state of receivers who produced solid numbers, Courtland Sutton, Emmanuel Sanders, James Proche and Cole Beasley.

SMU has two players, Danny Gray and Reggie Roberson Jr., who are expected to be drafted as early as Day 2. Dallas expressed interest in Gray, a speedy wideout from Madison High School. Gray ran a blazing 4.33 40 at the combine and had a 34-inch vertical jump. Roberson battled health issues the last few years, but it didn’t stop him from playing in 12 games last season.

“Put on the tape, I played a full season,” said Roberson, who also said several NFL teams have asked about his kick/punt return abilities. “So I just showed them how I looked and got better during the season knowing that I’m progressing as time goes on.”

Roberson said he talked with 30 teams at the NFL scouting combine and is hopeful he’ll get drafted by the Cowboys.

“I grew up a Dallas fan,” said Roberson, who went to Mesquite Horn. “I’m from the area so talking to [the Cowboys], they loved me a lot. They came around a lot, since I’m up the street, they saw me play. I think they have some interest in me and I’m a Dallas fan at heart.”

Dicker the kicker

The Cowboys have drafted eight kickers in franchise history, with David Buehler being the last in 2009. He lasted 36 games, fewer than Nick Folk, who was employed in Dallas for 46 games and has spent the last three seasons in New England.

Why talk about kickers?

Well, the Cowboys, with nine draft selections, might take one next week. It’s not considered a strong class among kickers so the best objective is to go the undrafted free agent route.

However, two Cowboys’ scouts took interest in Texas kicker Cameron Dicker. He’s probably Texas’ best draft prospect, which is saying something about the state of the program. Dicker went 14 for 14 on field goal attempts at the combine, but there were issues at his pro day.

He struggled on field goal attempts outside the practice bubble with the wind in his favor. He also missed three 50-yard attempts. When it came to kickoffs, he needed more hang time.

NFL scouts want a kicker with a 3.9 to 4.0 seconds of hang time on kickoffs. Dicker reached that point at times during his pro day. Dicker set Texas records for career field goals made (60), field goals attempted (79) and converted the most points as a kicker (386) in school history.

Finding a backup quarterback to develop on to-do list

The Cowboys starting quarterback is Dak Prescott. He’s not going anywhere, yet finding a young quarterback to develop is something of interest. Cooper Rush is the current No. 2 and he’s signed through 2022 ($1.035 million base salary). Ben DiNucci and Will Grier are also on the depth chart.

The Cowboys held private talks and workouts with several small-college quarterbacks who transferred from bigger schools. The Cowboys had a private workout with Jacksonville State’s Zerrick Cooper. They’ve also had interviews with EJ Perry (Brown) and Chris Oladokun (South Dakota State).

Cooper, a transfer from Clemson, played in the NFLPA and Senior Bowl games. Last season for Jacksonville State, he threw for 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Oladokun has visited with several NFL teams. He didn’t visit The Star, but the transfer from Samford and South Florida finished last season with 3,164 passing yards with 25 touchdowns and seven picks in 15 games.

Perry, a transfer from Boston College, led FCS teams in 2019 in total offense (367.8 yards) and last season had six 300-yard games while throwing 23 TDs with 14 INTs.

If the Cowboys select a quarterback it will be in the late rounds.

It’s not a strong QB class but these quarterbacks should be around on Day 3.

Speed isn’t the thing

at Texas A&M

One of the more disappointing things from the Texas A&M pro day was the lack of speed among some of its skill players. Running back Isaiah Spiller ran a slow 4.63 40 indoors at College Station. Spiller was overcoming a strained abductor muscle issue that’s now recovered.

“I didn’t really prove anybody wrong,” he said. “People are going to hate on me. I just prove my family right, people that believe in me. I’m just grateful for an opportunity.”

Spiller finished last season fifth in the SEC in rushing (1,011), 48th nationally. His lack of speed sticks out after six running backs ran sub 4.40s at the combine led by Rutgers’ Isiah Pacheco’s 4.37 and South Dakota State’s Pierre Strong’s 4.37. Among the best running backs in the draft, Iowa State’s Breece Hall (4.39) and Michigan State’s Kenny Walker (4.38) produced faster results.

Spiller, who visited with five teams during the draft process, says he plays faster than what he showed at the pro day.

“For sure, people chasing me and stuff, obviously I’m going to be a little faster, more intense, more focused,” Spiller said. “Just grateful I got the opportunity to run the 40, show my hands [in catching drills] and showcase my feet as well.”

Could A&M’s Kenyon Green wind up with Cowboys?

The Cowboys are in the market for an offensive lineman. It’s hard to say when the team will pick one, but considering the Cowboys’ needs (also receiver, linebacker, corner and safety), drafting the best player available is more important.

Yet, if Texas A&M’s Kenyon Green is available toward the bottom half of the first round, he’s a possible selection. Green was one of the Cowboys’ 30 visits of draft prospects. He started 35 games in his career playing both guard spots in 2019 and 2020, but last season he played four offensive line positions.

That versatility gives him value. During his pro day, Green even took some center snaps.

“Yeah, [NFL teams] been talking to me about playing everything,” Green said. “Right now, I’m just working on everything and making sure I can show my best hand.”

The top two tackles, Ikem Ekwonu of North Carolina State and Evan Neal of Alabama, should be gone by the time the New York Jets pick at No. 10. Mississippi State tackle Charles Cross and Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning are possible midround selections. Green could be available in the 20s, and that work at center can only boost his stock.

“I got film in practice doing it [in college], so why not see me doing that,” he said. “[Just] being able to play everything to help your team out in any form or fashion. Plug you in at tackle, center, guard, flip both sides, having that in your tool box helps you out a lot.”