FRISCO -- David Irving has been the Cowboys' most effective pass rusher all season. But over the last two games, he's been nearly unstoppable.

To grasp just how much the defensive lineman appreciates his recent NFL success, you first have to understand his journey.

And Irving has quite the story to share.

There's one common theme: perseverance.

"It's amazing that I'm here," Irving said.

That's for sure.

Before Irving reached the NFL, he was kicked out of high school and dismissed from Iowa State's football team. He had a short stint working for Home Depot and even spent some nights sleeping in his car. He also overcame an arrest for his involvement in what was described as a riot.

Through it all, Irving never gave up on his football dreams.

Now, he's a major contributor for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. He has three sacks and eight quarterback hits the last two weeks against Tampa Bay and Detroit. He leads the Cowboys with 23 quarterback pressures and is fourth with four sacks.

Irving, 23, started at left end Monday against the Lions but played all four defensive line spots before the night was over. He's moved from tackle to end seamlessly all season. And at 6-7, 273 pounds and with perhaps the longest wingspan in the NFL at 87 3/4 inches, he ranks among the team leaders with five pass breakups.

"I took football for granted before I was kicked out of college," Irving said. "Some of the decisions I made I wouldn't make now. I wasn't thinking about my future, my family and my daughter. I made bad decisions. Once I lost it, I really felt it. I found out that I loved football more than I thought I did.

"I can't lose this now. I won't do that again."

Born in Compton, Calif., Irving moved to San Jacinto -- about two hours east of Los Angeles -- at 12 years old. He said his parents divorced when he was in middle school.

"My mom told me we didn't have money to pay for college, and I'd either go to the Marines like my dad or I would have to get a scholarship," Irving said. "So, she put me in sports early."

Irving said he was kicked out of school his freshman year after he ran into trouble. He spent the next few years home-schooling at a church before returning to San Jacinto High School. He played defensive tackle and tight end as a senior, earning a scholarship to Iowa State.

Irving became a starter with the Cyclones as a junior after switching from end to tackle.

But in November 2013 -- near the end of his junior season -- Irving was charged with domestic abuse causing injury after police were called to an apartment for a welfare check. He was suspended indefinitely and missed a game against Oklahoma before being reinstated. The charges were dropped in January 2014.

Just three months later, Irving found himself in trouble again during Iowa State's VEISHEA week, an annual celebration held each spring on campus.

Irving said he was at a house party one night with "thousands of people." Police were called, and the party was shut down. Upset students took to the streets, Irving said, and began ripping up street signs, flipping cars, pushing over light poles and throwing beer cans at police while chanting.

A stop sign was passed from student to student until it eventually ended up in the hands of Irving. The moment was captured in photos and video (which you can see here).

One student suffered severe head injuries when he was struck in the head by a falling light pole (not one pushed over by Irving, he said).

"That's when it became a big deal, and they wanted to blame somebody," Irving said. "They came to my house with a warrant and were looking for that stop sign, which was not there. They did find a shirt I was wearing in the video and the picture."

Irving was charged with disorderly conduct, fifth-degree theft (for the stop sign) and second-degree criminal mischief (for the light pole).

On April 12, 2014, a day after Irving's arrest, Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads announced that the defensive lineman was being dismissed from the team.

"That's when I thought my football career was over," Irving said.

Irving said he was living in an apartment at Iowa State that was being paid for by his scholarship when he was kicked off the team. He said he packed up and used what little money he had left for gas before making the 24-hour drive across six states from Ames, Iowa, to San Jacinto, Calif.

With no money and seemingly no hope for a football future, Irving took a job at Home Depot. During this time, he said he also spent some nights sleeping in his car. Irving said he spent only a day or two at Home Depot before realizing "that's not for me."

Irving's former San Jacinto High School coach reached out to him, setting up a one-man pro day for him. Irving impressed scouts enough that Kansas City signed him as a free agent after the 2015 draft. In late September 2015, the Cowboys signed Irving off of the Chiefs' practice squad.

A year later, Irving has stood out among a group of no-name defensive players coordinator Rod Marinelli has nicknamed the "orphans."

"Since being kicked out of college, I've really gotten by on my size and athleticism, but now I've really got down my technique," Irving said. "My moves have been getting better with my outside rush, and I'm finally starting to tap into my potential I've been hearing about."