I'd ask if you can find similar evidence of the same level of interest in CB Michael Jackson prior to the draft?
If not, then it's clear to me that Jackson was Plan B after Johnson was selected immediately after the Pollard pick.
Then we watch to see if Pollard is everything the Cowboys think and hope he can be and how Johnson and Jackson compare as cornerbacks.
Just like we waited to see how Taco and TJ Watt compared.
We as fans only get a fraction of the details of who the Cowboys meet with during pre-draft evaluations.
I'm not saying that the Cowboys did or did not prefer Isaiah Johnson to Michael Jackson.
My point is that the connection to Isaiah Johnson all appears to connect back to the U of H Pro Day that Kris Richard attended.
Broaddus and crew repeatedly said after the draft that the Cowboys really liked CB Lonnie Johnson who went in the 2nd round.
I don't have any info on the Cowboys meeting with Lonnie Johnson.
U of H Pro Day
The Cowboys were at the U of H Pro Day to see DT Ed Oliver. That's been repeatedly reported, especially by Broaddus & crew.
Isaiah Johnson decided to introduce his parents to Kris Richard at the Pro Day.
The Cowboys coaches attend Pro Days more often when it's relatively close. They seem to go to Baylor, A&M, etc. most years.
Reviewing the Miami coaching staff, the most connections were to Texas, Louisiana State and Mississippi State.
It's probably just coincidence, but the Cowboys have drafted players from those schools in recent years.
Dak Mississippi State
X.Woods Louisiana State
Connor Williams Texas
Two Players from Miami Drafted
When a team drafts two players from the same school it's often revealed later that that the team had some connection with that school.
Either they visited there or somebody with the Cowboys had a relationship with somebody at Miami.
Since both were defensive players, the most obvious guess would be a defensive coach or Head Coach at Miami.
Miami CB Technique - Similarities to Kris Richard Style
The other interesting note on the possible Miami connection, is the technique played by Michael Jackson at Miami.
One of the first things I noticed in Jackson's game footage was the similarity in technique to the Kris Richards / Richard Sherman CB press technique.
The kick-step press technique is not common but it's very obvious for anyone that's studied Richard Sherman in Seattle.
Michael Jackson at Miami and the other CB opposite Jackson both played a press technique that was similar to the kick-step press.
Side Note: DC.com Crew - Before and After the Draft
While the DC.com crew is often wrong before the draft when they speculate, they are often correct when they reveal "inside" info after the draft
I remember back in 2009 right after Seattle traded up a few picks ahead of the Cowboys and picked OC Max Unger.
Mickey immediately said Unger was the Cowboys target and that proved to be correct.
Mickey had not said much about Unger prior to the pick; although he obviously knew that was the target.
It turns out that Jerry blabbed to Mike Holmgren that they were going to draft Unger.
Seattle was probably going to trade up for Unger anyway, but they might or might not have beat the Cowboys to the punch.