Fries or onion rings? What Cowboys’ Jaylon Smith learned from working at Burger King

FRISCO, Texas — Studying film this week, Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith wants to crack the code of Sean McVay’s offense.

He wants to understand how to stop electric all-Pro running back Todd Gurley better than he did in a Week 4 loss last season, Smith’s first game calling plays at middle linebacker in veteran Sean Lee’s absence. Gurley gashed Dallas for 215 yards and a touchdown in the 35-30 Rams win.

But before Smith turned his focus to deciphering a frenetic Gurley across the line of scrimmage, or even college offenses, Smith looked to understand another vantage point as a senior in high school: the other side of the counter at a fast-food restaurant.

In the spring of his senior year in high school, the fifth-best recruit in the Class of 2013 signed up for a job at Burger King.

“I got a full-ride to Notre Dame, really can’t work when you’re at the collegiate level, so I wanted to experience it,” Smith said Wednesday from Cowboys practice. “Growing up always going to different fast-food restaurants, looking over the counter, waiting for my food and seeing how hectic it was or how it looked, I wanted to put myself in their shoes and understand.”

One message he says he learned: accountability.

He’d manage the drive-through window, aiming to brighten the days of customers across demographics.

“One of my passions and gifts is putting smiles on people’s faces,” Smith said. “I was able to do that.”

He looks to do the same as a third-year linebacker anchoring Dallas’ top-5 rushing defense on the field and motivating teammates off. Smith reckons he has a personal handshake with almost every teammate on Dallas’ roster. He calls himself the “Predator,” while rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is named the "Wolf Hunter," with the duo howling each time Vander Esch carries out a big play and making Smith’s signature “swipe” motion when Smith cashes in.

Vander Esch leads the team with 176 total tackles, Smith close behind at 150 along with four sacks, 13 quarterback pressures, two forced fumbles and two recoveries. When Randy Gregory strip-sacked Jameis Winston in December, Smith returned the loose ball 69 yards for a touchdown.

The Cowboys won that game by a single score as defenders worked in tandem.

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