OXNARD, Calif. -- Now that the Cowboys are into their second full week of training camp with a preseason game on the horizon, it's time to pop the question.

What player has caught the eye of teammates and coaches? What new addition has jumped out?

The same player keeps getting mentioned.

"Tony Pollard has done a real nice job out there,'' executive vice president Stephen Jones said. "He's getting a little bit of everything.

"He's probably one that has stuck out for me if I were going to pick one.''

This isn't about pumping up the back that runs with the first team in Ezekiel Elliott's absence. This is about a rookie making the most of his extra snaps and opportunity during Elliott's holdout.

The Cowboys didn't select Pollard in the fourth round to replace Elliott. He's no threat to the Pro Bowl fixture.

He was taken to complement Elliott and diversify the offense. The Cowboys intend to deploy the rookie from Memphis the way New Orleans does Alvin Kamara.

"One of the most exciting players to me of this training camp,'' quarterback Dak Prescott said of Pollard. "The things that he's been able to do running the ball, catching the ball out of the backfield. He's making plays.

"And he's really an intelligent dude. A really smart guy. When we're in the offense, or in the offensive unit, or in the team meetings, anytime coach calls him out on his responsibility, without a hesitation he's getting that right.

"That's what you want to see from a young guy.''

Sadly, Jason Garrett doesn't utter the phrase "intelligent dude.'' But the Cowboys head coach considers Pollard a smart player who has not only picked up what he needs to do in the run game, but has a good concept of routes and protection in the passing game.

"He is someone who continues to play fast,'' Garrett said. "He doesn't look like he's not playing to his speed because he is thinking too much."

Pollard prides himself on his preparation. He knows the better his grasp on the playbook, the better the chance he has to show off his 4.52 speed in the 40.

The goal is to play fast and free. Pollard has done that to this stage of camp. He recently worked his way onto the first team and is getting extended work with the starters.

When the players had a day off earlier this week, he didn't get away and explore this part of California. He stayed at the facility for treatment, a little time in the ice tub and to study.

"I'm in the playbook every night,'' Pollard said. "Every night you have to learn what you just did in practice and get up on a new install. Just trying to stay a step ahead.

"I always stand ready so I don't have to get ready.''

Another positive is his physical nature. Pollard (6-0, 215) runs between the tackles. When he's not returning kickoffs, he's doing his best to blast the return man in punt coverage.

"You never really know about someone's toughness until you have them up close and you have them in game-type situations,'' Garrett said. "But that's certainly one of the things we liked about him watching his college tape and getting to know him coming out of school.

"He just was a football player. You saw it on tape, you saw him run inside, you saw him run outside, you saw him return kicks. He did a lot of different things. And he never appeared to us as being a finesse player.

"We've certainly seen that up to this point.''

Run game. Pass game. Kickoff returns. Punt coverage. Pollard is being used in all of these phases. He's also fielding punts off to the side.

Pollard hasn't returned punts since high school. The Cowboys have no plans to put him there at the moment. But he wants to work on it, just in case.

"I feel I can be a playmaker anywhere,'' he said.

It seems everyone wants a piece of Pollard. The coaching staff knows this and is cognizant of not putting too much on the rookie's plate. That's one reason he's not returning punts.

Pollard's response?

Don't worry about it. He's ready to assume any responsibility that comes his way.

"I mean, I feel like I've been having a pretty good camp so far, just bonding with the team,'' Pollard said.

Pretty good doesn't begin to describe the impression he's made on coaches and teammates in this camp.

"He's been delivering,'' Prescott said. "He comes out each and every day with that mindset of how can I be better than I was yesterday.

"He's going to help us out.''

Catch David Moore on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) with The Musers at 9:35 a.m. and The Hardline at 4:30 p.m. every Monday through Friday during training camp.

Twitter: @DavidMooreDMN

Tony Pollard's credentials from his three seasons at Memphis.

Cowboys Camp Schedule

Today

12:45 p.m.: Practice

3 p.m.: Jason Garrett news conference

Friday

Team travels to San Francisco

Saturday

8 p.m.: Cowboys at San Francisco