ZC #48

Zion Childress

Cornerback · Kentucky

A well-traveled defensive back who played all five secondary positions in college before fighting his way onto Dallas' practice squad.

Zion Childress built a reputation as a versatile piece of the secondary at Texas State and Kentucky, capable of lining up at corner, nickel or safety. After going undrafted in 2025, he bounced between the Cowboys and Texans before re-signing with Dallas on a futures deal.

★ Team captain at Kentucky, 2023

★ 55 tackles with six for loss in final Kentucky season, 2024

★ Played all five secondary positions at Texas State as a true freshman

Path to the league

Childress began his college career at Texas State in 2020, where he played all five secondary positions as a true freshman, before transferring to Kentucky in 2022. He started 13 games and served as a team captain for the Wildcats in 2023, and went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft before signing with the Dallas Cowboys.

Career highlights

Childress' final college season at Kentucky in 2024 produced 55 tackles, including six for loss, a sack, two pass deflections and a forced fumble. His ability to rotate between safety and nickel corner made him an appealing developmental target as an undrafted free agent.

2025 season recap

Childress earned first-team reps at nickel during his first Cowboys training camp before being waived and re-signed to the practice squad. The Houston Texans plucked him off Dallas' practice squad in September, but he was released a month later and returned to the Cowboys, signing a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2026.