Shiyazh Pete’s first preseason snap for the Dallas Cowboys turned into something bigger than football.
The undrafted free agent and former Kentucky offensive lineman entered Saturday’s game and was met with a standing ovation from thousands of fans in the stands, many of them members of the Navajo Nation who came to see one of their own take an NFL field for the first time. Pete said the moment stayed with him.
“The standing ovation was incredible,” Pete told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I want to thank all of the fans that showed up to support me and wear my jersey.
I lost count of how many Navajo Nation flags I saw. It was awesome.”
He added, “I saw hope and courage,” he said. “It’s definitely etched in the history books.
It was incredible. I’m just trying to find the words of how special and impactful that was.”
Pete is believed to be the first member of the Navajo Nation to ever play in an NFL game, and the scene clearly left an impression on Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who said he has spent more than 25 years in the league without seeing anything quite like it.
“It was really cool to see him have that moment, but also our players to join in and helping to celebrate him,” Schottenheimer said. “That was really cool.
I hadn’t seen that before. I’m really proud for him and for what he’s done for us.”
After the ovation, Schottenheimer handed the sticks to Pete, and Pete addressed the entire team in the locker room.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nguyen also spoke about what Pete’s signing meant.
“Shiyazh Pete represents more than football,” Navajo Nation President Buu Nguyen said after he was signed. “He represents where he comes from, the work it takes to get here, and the pride of our people. Moments like this show our young people what’s possible when you stay committed.”
Pete’s place on the roster is far from secure. He played only six snaps in the win over Arizona. But for one night, the undrafted rookie created a moment that reached well beyond the box score.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Push For Mark Mitchell Now Rests On One Eligibility Fight
Mark Mitchells path to a fifth college basketball season has turned into one of those off-court fights that can reshape a roster before anyone ever reaches the floor. The former Missouri forward has a temporary restraining order in Kentucky that keeps him eligible for now, giving him a legal foothold as Kentucky continues to push for help in adding him to the mix. What makes the case so complicated is that the SECs transfer rules still matter here, and they were built to limit intraleague moves to specific NCAA windows.
Greg Sankey has said those rules remain in effect unless changed or waived, and the conference, along with others, opposed Mitchells lawsuit seeking extra eligibility. The NCAAs new five-for-five model begins in 2026-27, but it did not grandfather in players from the high school class of 2022, which leaves Mitchell and others in a gray area as eligibility and transfer rights keep colliding. For Kentucky, the question is no longer just whether Mitchell can play, but whether the legal path stays open long enough to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Stayed Alive In A Massive 2027 Recruiting Battle
Kentucky remains squarely in the mix for one of the class of 2027s premier guards, as five-star point guard Reese Alston has included the Wildcats among his top seven college choices. Ranked No. 9 nationally, Alston has drawn heavy attention early in his recruitment, and Kentucky has kept itself involved since extending an offer in October 2025.
Mikhail McLean has been a steady presence in the pursuit, helping Kentucky stay relevant as the race begins to take shape. Louisville currently has the early momentum, but the process is still wide open, with several programs working to separate themselves in what figures to be a long battle for one of the top point guards in the country. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Is Tracking A Rare 7-Foot-2 Prospect Fans Need To Watch
Kentuckys recruiting radar has already started to pick up on a name that fits the modern big-man mold in a very unusual way. Cherif Millogo, a 7-foot-2 center at St. Francis High School in California, has emerged as a top prospect in the 2027 class, and his path to the sport makes him even more intriguing. Originally from Burkina Faso, Millogo did not come to basketball through the usual youth pipeline. He moved from soccer to hoops around age 13 and has grown into a versatile player with a strong shooting touch.
His rise has drawn attention from several major college programs, with Kentucky among the schools keeping tabs as the evaluation process begins to sharpen. Millogo is also being managed by former NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute, who helped arrange his enrollment at St. Francis, adding another layer of experience around a prospect already standing out for his size and skill. For Wildcats fans, he is the kind of long-term name worth filing away now, because players with this mix of frame, background and upside tend to become much harder to ignore once the offers start stacking up. [Read more 🡒]