10 Dolphin Digest AUGUST 6, 2019seem logical to think that Alonso would have a key
role regardless. He clearly is the biggest playmaker
on the team at the position.
JEROME BAKER — Baker has the speed to chal-
lenge Alonso in the playmaking department and he
showed up this spring with some added weight, which
will come in handy in his second season. As is the
case with Alonso, his role is yet to be defined but
should be significant.
SAM EGUAVOEN — Eguavoen joined the Dol-phins this offseason after three years in the Canadian
Football League and made his share of plays in cov-
erage during spring practices open to the media. The
one issue that could hamper Eguavoen in his quest to
make the roster is a lack of ideal size (6-0, 235).
JAYRONE ELLIOTT — Elliott joined the Dol-
phins after leading the AAF in sacks before it folded.
He’s got experience with the Green Bay Packers and
has clear pass-rushing ability, which would be his
ticket to a roster spot.
TERRILL HANKS — Hanks, who played his high
school football in Miami, was an interesting prospect
out of New Mexico State who made a lot of plays in
college. There’s definitely something about him,
though he faces tough odds to earn a roster spot. He
could be an ideal practice squad candidate.
TYRONE HOLMES — And we have yet another
former AAF player. Holmes has NFL experience withthe Cleveland Browns after first being drafted by the
Jacksonville Jaguars. He’ll get a chance to show what
he can do in training camp.
MIKE HULL — Hull was re-signed after the Dol-
phins first declined to tender him a qualifying offer
as a restricted free agent, so they obviously do like
him. Hull is a quality special teams player and that
will end up being the key to his ability to hang on to
a roster spot.
RAEKWON McMILLAN — This is perhaps the
most intriguing linebacker on the roster. The 2017
second-round pick made steady progress last year in
his first real season and he figures to play a significant
role on defense in the fall.
NATE ORCHARD — This is another intriguing
player because of the success he had rushing the
passer in his final season at the University of Utah
when he had 18.5 sacks. Orchard is a good fit for a 3-
4 outside linebacker position and should have a good
shot at earning a roster spot despite not being signed
until May.
QUENTIN POLING — The seventh-round pick
from Ohio University stuck around on the practice
squad all of last season and now is back for a second
shot at making the 53-man roster. Poling has ability,
even though he does not possess great size.
ANDREW VAN GINKEL — What exactly the
Dolphins have in the fourth-round pick from Wis-consin should become more clear in the summer be-
cause there was only so much he could show in the
spring. At the very least, he should contribute on spe-
cial teams as a rookie.
TRE’ WATSON — The rookie free agent led the
Big Ten with five interceptions last year at Maryland
after transferring from Illinois. Watson will need to
make his share of plays this summer if he hopes to
earn a roster spot.DEFENSIVE BACKS
WALT AIKENS — Aikens is back for his sixth
season with the Dolphins, and his role likely will be
as a leader and core player on special teams.
CORNELL ARMSTRONG — The second-year
player out of Southern Miss is one of many young
cornerbacks on the roster and he had some impres-
sive moments in the spring practices open to the
media. He figures to be in the mix in the battle to earn
key roles in the secondary.
JALEN DAVIS — After earning his way onto the
roster spot after being on the practice squad, the un-
drafted free agent out of Utah State enters his second
season as an intriguing player. He made some plays in
the spring and is somebody who could surprise this
summer.
MINKAH FITZPATRICK — There’s every reason
to expect big things from Fitzpatrick in his secondRaekwon McMillan Jayrone Elliott
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