After originally making the team as a rookie free agent in 2000, Troy Hambrick emerged into a dangerous offensive weapon for the Cowboys in 2001. A big, physical running back with deceptive speed in the open field, Hambrick has seen considerable time as a fullback and tailback during his first two seasons with the Cowboys. His aggressive style of running provided the Cowboys offense a change of pace back when replacing Emmitt Smith and allowed him to finish third among NFL running backs in yards-per-carry average at 5.1 yards in 2001. At the same time, his size and aggressiveness as a blocking fullback allowed Smith to top the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the 11th consecutive season in 2001 - an NFL record. None of this should be a huge surprise as Hambrick has been a productive back since the beginning of his collegiate career. In four college seasons and two NFL seasons, he has averaged 5.6 yards-per-rush on 604 carries. This type of production, along with his size and ability to play both backfield positions have Dallas coaches excited about his future.

College Career

Hambrick transferred from South Carolina to Savannah State as a senior in 1999 and proceeded to lead the Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Conference in scoring (116 points) while finishing third in rushing (1,189 yards on 183 carries - 6.5 avg.). He finished the year with 18 touchdowns while catching 14 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. He left South Carolina after rushing for 1,526 yards over his three years as a Gamecock to rank 18th on the school's all-time rushing list. In Hambrick's final season at USC, he led the team with 701 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 144 carries (4.9 avg.) while catching 22 passes for 166 yards. As a sophomore, he rushed for 604 yards and five scores on 115 carries (5.3 avg.) to lead the team while posting 18 receptions for 143 yards. While carrying the ball 43 times for 281 yards (6.5 avg.) and five touchdowns as a freshman, Hambrick became the first freshman in South Carolina history to rush for more than 100-yards in consecutive games.