An undrafted Vanderbilt linebacker who led the Commodores in tackles as a sophomore and now looks to carve out a role in the Cowboys' front seven.
Langston Patterson signed with Dallas as a high-priority undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt, bringing four years of steady tackle production from the middle of the Commodores' defense. The Nashville native comes from a football family and is fighting for a roster spot on a crowded Cowboys linebacker unit.
Path to the league
Patterson starred at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville before staying home to play for Vanderbilt from 2022 to 2025. He went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft but signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a high-priority undrafted free agent shortly after.
Career highlights
As a sophomore in 2023, Patterson led Vanderbilt with 74 tackles, including eight for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception. He followed that up with 78 tackles in 2024, adding five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He is the younger brother of former Vanderbilt linebacker Kane Patterson and the son of former Alabama quarterback Wes Patterson.
2025 season recap
Patterson closed out his Vanderbilt career in 2025 by playing all 13 games and recording 69 tackles, though his tackles for loss dipped to 1.5 as opposing offenses schemed around him. The production over four seasons was enough to draw a high-priority UDFA offer from the Cowboys once the 2026 draft ended.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Langston Patterson
- ESPN: Langston Patterson
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Vanderbilt
- Hometown
- Nashville, TN, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
