WELL-DESERVED | Arp dedicates new standing honor to native son DeMarvion Overshown

ARP – It’s likely that the traffic driving by the “Welcome To Arp” sign on Highway 64, right around the city limits, around 2 p.m. Monday afternoon had no idea what was happening – or exactly who was being honored, or even the occasion.

Had they known former University of Texas great and Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown was the guest of honor, the crowd might’ve gotten a lot larger.

The city of Arp paid tribute to Overshown Monday by erecting a larger-than-life sign, complete with Overshown’s likeness in his trademark No. 13 jersey, right beside the Arp welcome sign. Mayor Terry Lowry, city officials, DeMarvion’s family members, former coaches, fans and members of the media gathered there to see the unveiling. And it was a blustery, unseasonably-warm day – but Overshown was all smiles.

“You know, it’s hard to really put into words,” he said afterward. “There’s not a lot of days when you’re overwhelmed by this many great emotions. It’s something you think about when you’re a kid – I’d love to have something in my hometown saying I’m from here, that I did great things, just to show a little representation of Arp.

“I know I say it all the time, but my community is everything. I truly wouldn’t be where I’m at, truly wouldn’t have near the motivation or inspiration if it wasn’t for where I was brought up. My family and my community are a true testament of that. Just by doing this – showing their appreciation of me.”

“When things like this happen, it makes me want to get back to work tomorrow, and just show them that I’m forever rockin’ with y’all here, and I appreciate the support.”

The ceremony had originally been planned for last week, but lots of rain and wet weather delayed it to Monday, but aside from the wind, an otherwise beautiful day – just like the kind Lowry envisioned when he had this idea months ago.

“Didn’t have to do a lot of persuading,” Lowry laughed. “It’s great, great for our community. I hope it’s an inspiration for young people, that they can see (DeMarvion) and know they can do things like this. …I knew he’d do everything he could to get here.”

Moments earlier, with a crowd onlooking and most traffic actually driving slow enough that he could be heard, Lowry addressed Overshown and the crowd as the new signage with his likeness was revealed. Former Arp High coach Dale Irwin was on hand, as well.

“DeMarvion, back last summer you did something that many young people do, and think about doing, and that’s giving back to their community,” Lowry said, as he, Irwin and Overshown stood in front of the unveiled sign. “It impressed me so that I told you and your mom that I wanted to do something for you for the person that you are, not just the athlete, which are great. But it’s the things that you’ve done to help the community, and that you continue to do, that is the reason we’re doing this today.”

With that, the sign was unveiled: “HOME OF NFL PLAYER DeMARVION OVERSHOWN.”

“It’s you all the way,” Lowry said, with a laugh, and Overshown was joined by his family for photos.

He also had a gift for Lowry: an authentic, Cowboys-issued Overshown 13 jersey.

Overshown spent time signing every single item – Cowboys, Longhorns, papers, footballs and other things – that fans on hand brought, greeting family and friends, and then thanking those who took time to come.

He moved over to spend time with members of the media on hand from just about every outlet in East Texas, and had quite a bit to discuss: the knee injury, a torn ACL, that he suffered that ended his season on Monday night, Dec. 9, in a home game against Cincinnati; more on his feelings for his hometown; and briefly, even the surprising exit of NBA great Luka Doncic, traded Saturday night, somewhat unexpectedly, to the Los Angeles Lakers.

He also revealed some pretty big news: his family is about to have an addition.

“I am expecting a second boy,” Overshown said, with a smile. “So, the legacy lives on. That’s what I do it for, my family. It gives me even more drive and more motivation to be what I want to be. As much as it was, and is, a dream to make it to the NFL, I’ve always dreamed of doing it bigger: being a community leader, being a great father, a great husband, a great friend. It goes past the football and the off-the-field stuff that you do see. I’m all about my family, all about my community, and anything that I can do to ensure that my family is taken care of well after I’m gone, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Overshown had surgery late last year and is expected to make his return to the field in the 2025 season, and right now, he’s rehabbing that knee.

He was asked how he kept such a positive attitude, through his second knee injury, and how support around him is helping him in his continued recovery.

“I stay positive because I always look at tomorrow as another opportunity,” he said. “A lot of people say you only have once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, but I look at it that you’ve got an opportunity every day to be something you want to be. I say all the time, but when I went down on that field and I was able to get back up – that was me knowing I get a second chance at this. No matter what goes on, I get tomorrow to go to rehab, be the best I can be, and then do the same thing the next day. That’s why I stay positive, because half of this battle is mental. We’ve got the top modern-day technology; the doctors are the best they’ve ever been; it’s mainly mental. Having a positive mindset, the brain is so strong, it’ll heal you up even faster.”

Overshown was asked if perhaps his injury, and subsequent work to rehab and get back on the field, has inspired his teammates, and that maybe by doing so, they won’t take anything for granted.

“I definitely would say so,” he said. “I live my truth. The same person you see here right now is the same person you get on the field. I’m 100 percent all-effort, all-in, whatever I can do to help my team win. I know they see that when I’m at rehab. I see guys like (Cowboys quarterback) Dak (Prescott) and (cornerback) Josh Butler going through some injuries. We see each other, and that just makes us want to work harder, knowing what type of bond we’ve got on the team. Any chance that I can get to even inspire my teammates, I’m going for it, because I know how much it’s going to take – not only for myself, but for us as a team – to get to where we want to get to.”

What does it mean, Overshown was asked, to have Arp honor him in this way?

“It means the world,” he answered. “Coach Lowry coached me; he was the coach that lifted me, and he always told me he was going to see me in this spot one day. It was past my athletic ability – how I led in workouts, how I led the team, how I went about my day as a student. It was always about my business, and I was trying to be the best I could be. I appreciate him more than anything. When he said that it’s something I’m not going to stop doing, he’s correct. This is my home; this is my community. Anything I can do to help inspire kids to help better my community, that’s what I’m going to do.”

A lot of Texans, Overshown was told by a reporter, might only know of Arp because of Overshown – what would he like them to know about Arp?

“We’re strong,” he said. “We’re humble, we’re loving and we’re caring. And if you ever get a chance to stop by Arp and just experience the community, the people, then you will understand why I am the way I am. I’ve been loved, I’ve been supported, and motivated to be the best man that I can be, then best father I can be, and that’s just Arp in general. Matter of fact, ‘All Related People’ – that’s what we live by, and that’s the truth, a testament to who we are.”

He was asked about the Cowboys’ recently-hired head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, who was actually on staff already as the offensive coordinator, and promoted to head coach last week, following the departure of Mike McCarthy after four seasons.

Schottenheimer, of course, is the son of NFL great former Cleveland and Kansas City head coach Marty Schottenheimer, who passed away a few years ago.

“I’m excited,” Overshown smiled. “I’m excited. Schotty’s been around. He knows the ropes, and he’s a coach that’s so inspiring. His story is motivational, and you can just tell how bad he wants it. He’s a player. He’s chasing the same thing we’re chasing. One thing I like to say about Schotty, and coaches just in general in the NFL: it’s moreso about if you can get the players to rally behind you. I look at it as another opportunity to perform great for another coach. …I’ve got to be DeMarvion Overshown again. Last season don’t matter. So, I look at it as a challenge for me. I’m excited to get in there with the new coaches, but we’ve got work to do as players, and it’s only gonna go as far as we take it.”

The Cowboys, minus Overshown, Prescott and others, missed the playoffs for the first time under McCarthy, and finished with a 7-10 record. They’ll draft No. 12 overall in the NFL Draft in April, to be held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

Overshown, listed at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, missed the final three games of the season. He still finished with 92 tackles, 53 solo tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble and an interception that he returned for a touchdown (against the New York Giants in week 13).

The 24-year-old was selected by the Cowboys out of Texas with the 90^th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Overshown was even asked about another Metroplex-area star, the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic – news surprised many Saturday night when it broke that Doncic, who led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season, losing there to the Boston Celtics, is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, with LeBron James.

In return for Doncic, the Mavericks got Lakers post player Anthony Davis and a first-round pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

Overshown admitted, he’s a Lakers fan.

“I’m gonna shoot y’all straight,” he said, as the media surrounding him laughed. “You know, I haven’t been keeping up with the NBA like that, but I’m a LeBron fan, so I’m with the Lakers. Losing Anthony Davis – when we really don’t have no ‘bigs’ – was like confusing to me. I understand as Dallas Mavericks fans, though, we love Luka. Man, you don’t often see a once-in-a-generation talent traded away like that out of the blue. I feel like they thought they needed to shake some things up, and things – they shook now! I feel like everybody will be tuned in to the NBA this week to see what things are going on right now, but I’m still shocked.”

He was asked if he would watch the Super Bowl this Sunday – with fellow East Texan Patrick Mahomes of Whitehouse High School, the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, leading the Chiefs against Dallas’s NFC East Division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, who also have big ties to East Texas: offensive lineman Lane Johnson, the Eagles’ right tackle, played at Kilgore College.

“Throughout the whole playoffs, I was telling myself, like, ‘I don’t care who wins,’ but I’ve got to watch this game just so I can put myself, to see myself in the divisional round of the playoffs. I’ve got to watch the game. So yes, I will be watching the Super Bowl. No, I will NOT be going for the Philadelphia Eagles. So, there we go with that.”

As the media turned off their cameras, and their recorders, we wished Overshown the best in his recovery, and the upcoming weeks.

He looked at the crew from ETBlitz.com and made a vow.

“You’ll see me back on that field (in 2025),” he said. “I promise you that.”

And we believe him.