The Miami Dolphins posted on social media on Friday that they have signed 12 undrafted free agents. The team had spent the last two weeks putting together some deals for nearly a dozen undrafted free agents, but waited until the completion of the 2024 NFL Draft to make things official. This news comes just a few days after the announcement of Miami signing Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year deal.
The 12 players signed to the Miami Dolphins come just in time for the start of Dolphins rookie camp. The dozen players will be joined by Miami’s seven draft picks, but only the 12 signed are the ones officially under contract for the 2024 season.
Miami Dolphins Sign 12 Undrafted Free Agents
1. Bayron Matos, OT, USF
Matos played in just two games with South Florida in 2022, but was on their basketball team as well where he played 28 games with four starts and averaged 1.5 points per game. He signed with the Dolphins as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.
The IPPP is a program developed to increase the number of players outside of the US and Canada to play in the NFL. This provides athletes the opportunity to play in the league, furthering the amount of talent that teams can look at for adding to their rosters.
Matos is more familiar with basketball, lacking severely in the sport of football. He will not count against the 90-man roster due to the IPPP.
2. Je’Quan Burton, WR, Florida Atlantic
In over three seasons (2021-2023) with Florida Atlantic, Je’Quan Burton played in 34 games wehre he had 84 receptions for 1,277 yards and nine touchdowns. Burton spent the 2020 season at Iowa Central Community College after spending two seasons at Southern Illinois University.
3. Jordan Colbert, S, Rhode Island
Jordan Colbert spent the last two seasons at Rhode Island where he appeared in 21 games with 11 starts, recording 96 tackles, two interceptions, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery for a TD.
The 6’2, 214 pound safety reportedly recorded at 39.5-inch vertical at his pro day. He started his collegiate career at Columbia University where he was named third-team All-Ivy League honors in 2021.
4. Gavin Hardison, QB, UTEP
Gavin Hardison spent five seasons (2019-2023) at UTEP with his last season being cut short due to having Tommy John surgery. In his time at UTEP, he competed 570-of-1,061 passes for 7,963 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Hardison also played five games at New Mexico Military Institute in 2018, where he threw for 408 yards and four touchdowns. He was named an honorable mention All-Conference USA in 2021.
5. Storm Duck, CB, Louisville
Storm Duck spent four seasons in North Carolina before spending his final season at Louisville. At NC, he was named second-team All-ACC honors after posting 46 tackles, five interceptions, one forced fumble, and 12 passes defensed. At Louisville, Duck played in 12 games with four starts, recording 32 tackles.
6. Isaiah Johnson, CB, Syracuse
Isaiah Johnson started his collegiate career at Dartmouth (2018-2021) where he earned first-team All-Ivy League honors in 2021 after he had recorded 55 tackles, seven passes defensed, and one interception returned for a touchdown. Johnson spent his last two seasons at Syracuse where he played in 25 games with 19 starts, totaling 115 tackles, nine passes defensed, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.
7. Matthew Jones, OL, Ohio State
Only one of three Buckeyes to do it in history, Matthew Jones was a five-year letterwinner for Ohio State (2019-2023). He played in 53 games with 29 starts, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors in both 2022 and 2023.
8. Grayson Murphy, DL, UCLA
Prior to being at UCLA, Grayson Murphy played three seasons (2019-2021) at North Texas where he posted 57 tackles, 11.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and two forced fumbles. Murphy then spent his last two seasons at UCLA where he earned third-team All-Pac 12 honors in 2022 and was an honorable mention All-Pac 12 recipient last season.
With the Bruins, he appeared in 26 games with 14 starts, recording 58 tackles, 10.0 sacks, two passes defensed, and two forced fumbles.
9. Andrew Meyer, OL, UTEP
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Andrew Meyer started in all 12 games at center for UTEP in 2023, which earned him first-team All-Conference USA honors. He appeared in 54 games with 43 starts, and was also an honorable mention All-Conference USA selection in both 2020 and 2022.
10. Leonard Payne, DT, Colorado
A transfer from Fresno State, Payne spent his last collegiate season at Colorado where he made an appearance in 12 games with seven starts, recording 10 tackles, one pass defensed, 3.0 sacks, and a forced fumble. At Fresno State (2018-2022), Murphy played in 28 games with nine starts, notching 35 tackles, two fumble recoveries, 5.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
11. Hayden Rucci, TE, Wisconsin
Over four years (2020-2023) at Wisconsin, tight end Hayden Rucci appeared in 36 games with 18 starts where he recorded 17 receptions for 200 yards, and one touchdown. Rucci was also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2020, 2021, and 2023. According to PFF, Rucci only allowed two pressured on 180 pass blocking snaps in 2023.
12. Mark Perry, S, TCU
After spending three years at Colorado (2019-2021), Mark Perry transferred to TCU, where he would spend his final two seasons. At TCU, Perry recorded 142 tackles, six passes defensed and one forced fumble. He also was named an honorable mention All-Big 12 in 2023.
At Colorado, Perry recorded 91 tackles, three interceptions, seven passes defensed, one blocked kick, and one fumble recovery. He also was a sprinter for Colorado’s Track and Field team.
