Entering his third professional season, former Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau finds himself at a pivotal career crossroads with the Dallas Cowboys.
Drafted in the third round in 2024, Liufau has faced an uphill battle finding a permanent home in the defense. Following a sophomore campaign where his defensive snaps diminished sharply under former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, the franchise is making a last-ditch effort to maximize his potential by transitioning him to edge rusher under new defensive scheme changes.
However, Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News is not so sure that Liufau — who managed just 30 tackles and a sack last season — will even make the Cowboys’ 53-man roster, as Hoyt is actually predicting that Liufau will get released.
“The significant one here is obviously Liufau,” Hoyt wrote. “He’s heading into his third season after the Cowboys selected him in the third round out of Notre Dame. He hasn’t seen the field a ton during his career thus far. This year, the Cowboys said he would be moving to outside linebacker. He looked bigger in training camp and the Cowboys have insisted he could have a larger role this season. It’ll be on him to earn that in training camp.”
The decision to move Liufau from off-ball linebacker to outside edge rusher stems from the Cowboys’ desire to leverage his unique physical profile. Coaching staff and team leadership point to his long arms, length, and natural ability to disrupt the ball as key drivers behind the move.
Although he will need to add weight to his frame to physically match up against NFL offensive tackles, the organization believes his strength and edge-setting potential can offer fresh defensive versatility.
That is, of course, if Liufau actually keeps his job.
Dallas has accumulated considerable depth along the defensive line, leaving him to compete alongside several established players and incoming pass-rush talent during training camp.
With his playing time dropping off significantly last year, this positional shift represents a make-or-break opportunity to prove his worth or potentially risk being cut or traded before the upcoming season begins.
Liufau spent five years at Notre Dame between 2019 and 2023, with his best season coming in 2023 when he racked up 44 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks.
The 25-year-old played in all 17 games during his debut campaign in Dallas, finishing with 50 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He appeared in 47 percent of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps in 2024.
Last year, Liufau participated in just 18 percent of Dallas’ defensive snaps, with most of his work coming on special teams.
