Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys' first-round draft pick, met the media Friday as rookie minicamp begins at Valley Ranch. The running back said he spent the last week since Dallas drafted him with the No. 4 pick relaxing in Columbus, Ohio, and cracking the playbook.

On his biggest adjustment from Ohio State to the Cowboys:

"Right now the most challenging point is getting in the huddle and hearing the play and executing it. I'm used to getting my plays from the sideline, a no-huddle offense, so that's going to be the biggest transition."

On his coolest moment as a Cowboy, attending the Cowboys draft party last Friday at AT&T Stadium:

"Getting out there with the Cowboys fans, it was my first experience with them, seeing how passionate [they are] and how much they love this organization."

On wearing No. 21 in Dallas and if he considered Emmitt Smith's No. 22:

"Really wasn't any meaning. I like the No. 21. If I could, I would've kept 15. I didn't think about 22 -- that's just something you don't do, that's a guy who worked so hard and accomplished so much at this organization that would've been kind of disrespectful to wear his number."

On being able to get back on the field and the high expectations on him:

"It's exciting to get back on the field. It's a relief that I can start playing ball again. ...I understand what's expected of me. I understand the lineage for the running back position of the Dallas Cowboys. I'm ready to attack this play book, attack the field and hold up to expectations."