FRISCO -- The NFL rushing crown, a Pro Bowl honor, an unforgettable touchdown celebration and the league's No. 1 ranking in merchandise sales highlighted Ezekiel Elliott's rookie season, establishing him as one of the game's top young talents.

But off-the-field issues and questionable decision-making accompanied the ascendency. As the Cowboys wrap up their offseason program Thursday and with 37 days to go before Elliott departs for his second training camp, the 21-year-old professes to be wising up.

"Just kind of want to stay out of the way," the running back said Wednesday after minicamp practice at The Star. "Whatever you do is going to be seen."

So what inspired the laying low, which he says has been his intent for the last six weeks?

"It's just life," he said. "You learn from your mistakes. If you don't, it can be brutal."

Elliott allowed that the scrutiny is even more intense than he expected when the Cowboys drafted him with the No. 4 overall pick in 2016, staking the team's identity on being able to run the ball and leading to a 13-3 record and NFC East title. But he has professed previously to getting wake-up calls about the position he is now in.

That didn't prevent an early offseason incident, when he came under fire after cameras caught him pulling down a woman's top at a St. Patrick's Day block party on Lower Greenville.

That happened with the NFL continuing to investigate whether he violated its personal conduct policy after a woman accused him of assault on multiple occasions, though he is not facing criminal charges and has denied wrongdoing. Phone records were recently turned over that could signal a resolution is nearing to the almost yearlong investigation, according to sources. Elliott called for closure following Dallas' playoff loss to Green Bay in January.

Elliott was a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in an accident in May, causing the Cowboys to hold him out of the first week of organized team activities as a precaution. His mother, Dawn, tweeted that the vehicle was rear-ended and none of the Cowboys coaches professed any concern about the incident.

But it once again highlighted that anything Elliott is involved with can become a big deal. Or as Dawn Elliott tweeted, just so: "Unfortunately, he can't fart without it being news."

Gary Brown, the Dallas running backs coach, said that he's seen a change in Elliott off the field that is manifesting itself in his job. He said Elliott understands that his career is finite.

"Definitely, this game we play is brutal, especially at my position," Elliott said. "You got guys like [Jason Witten] and [Darren McFadden] who can play forever. But you never know when your time is going to be. So, you have to take advantage of what you have.

"Right now, we're in a great situation to do some great things. I've got to do everything I can to maximize these moments."

Brown said Elliott has "slowed down" away from football and become more immersed in the sport.

"I've seen him be more into his craft," Brown said, pointing to Elliott's approach to practice and in the position room, studying the game and asking questions.

"It's all going in the right direction," Brown said.

The Cowboys plan to increase Elliott's role in his second season. Yes, that includes keeping him on the field on third downs and as a pass-catching target. Brown even cracked that they'd snap him the ball directly if needed.

Elliott has focused on finding even more yards in his sophomore season, identifying ways to extend runs at the second level, setting up cornerbacks and safeties to his advantage.

"I know it's kind of weird to say," Brown said. "But we both feel like he could have some really long runs even more."

Elliott has good company in trying to live up to the mega expectations of Year 2. Quarterback Dak Prescott is in a similar situation.

The friends continue to rely on and razz each other.

"I know his focus is the same as mine -- just getting better," Prescott said. "We make mistakes, we make mistakes together, but you can see in his eyes, see in his demeanor his hunger to fix that.

"He knows he's back in there, he's my partner in crime. If I need something, he's going to make sure on the field and off the field that it happens."

Elliott conducted media interviews on Wednesday while wearing a Stetson cowboy hat. The company had sent individually sized hats to the locker room.

Playing reporter, Prescott asked Elliott: "Is that a custom-made hat? Where'd they find a hat big enough to fit you?"

Without missing a beat, Elliott responded: "I'm going to give you this hat to cover your hairline."

It remains to be seen if the answers to the harder questions will start to come as easily for Elliott.

Twitter: @khairopoulos