Inside The Star
The Cowboys are turning their eyes toward rookie defensive tackle Jay Toia—a powerful, disruptive 1-tech out of UCLA, with Mazi Smith battling injury and falling massively short of expectations throughout his first two seasons.
Toia, who flew under the radar in national draft discussions, now has a chance to seize a starting role on a Cowboys defensive line that desperately needs help in the middle.
Based on his college film, statistical output, and physical traits, Toia may be the upgrade the Cowboys need at the nose.
In 2024, the Cowboys ranked 29th in run defense, allowing a concerning 137.1 rushing yards per game and giving up 25 rushing touchdowns.
Much of that came from inconsistent play at the interior tackle spots—especially from Mazi Smith, the team’s 2023 first-round pick.
Smith struggled with leverage, hand placement, and maintaining gap discipline. He frequently lost ground against double teams and did not flash the power or burst the Cowboys expected when they drafted him as a potential anchor in the middle.
To make matters worse, Smith’s injuries have compounded his underperformance.
With his availability uncertain, the Cowboys may be ready to hand the keys to Jay Toia, who played over 1,600 snaps at UCLA and comes in with a proven record of stout run defense and raw physicality.
Let’s break down Toia’s four-year body of work at UCLA:
These numbers show clear growth each year, culminating in his breakout 2024 campaign.
Most notably, Toia lined up in the A-gap (true 1-tech or nose tackle) on 434 of his 591 total defensive line snaps in 2024—proof of his experience playing exactly where Dallas now needs help.
Jay Toia’s strength lies in his ability to absorb double teams and prevent interior movement.
His 2024 film shows him consistently controlling blockers, allowing linebackers to flow freely and plug gaps. That’s a vital quality for the Cowboys, whose linebacker unit struggled in part because of being swallowed up by unblocked linemen.
https://twitter.com/VochLombardi/status/1918434821308592627 ###
Toia’s 16 run stops in 2022 and 2024 reflect a player who knows how to anchor and maintain leverage. He’s not overly flashy, but he’s effective at holding his ground.
His technique improved steadily over time, particularly in shedding blocks and resetting the line of scrimmage.
Though not a primary pass rusher, Toia’s 14 hurries in 2024 show he can collapse the pocket from the middle. He times his punch well and uses his hands effectively to disengage.
For comparison, Mazi Smith has...
