Phin Phanatic
FanSided

Small school prospects Miami Dolphins should keep an eye on

By Nick Belotto

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Head Coach Brian Flores from the Miami Dolphinsof the National Team on the sidelines during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Head Coach Brian Flores from the Miami Dolphinsof the National Team on the sidelines during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Safety Christian Uphoff #29 from Illinois State of the National Team warms up before the start of the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Safety Christian Uphoff #29 from Illinois State of the National Team warms up before the start of the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Christian Uphoff, Safety, Illinois State

2019 Stats: 70 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions (stats courtesy ofThePantagraph.com)

Uphoff is a big safety who could develop as a bit of a thumper and bring some speed at the position. He showed a decent ability to stay with a variety of receivers over his 2019 season and proved that he could make tackles in the open field.

He definitely needs to develop better ball skills which is something that this coaching staff could help him work on but he has the ability to shadow receivers and disrupt the running game of opposing offenses.

Interestingly enough, Uphoff could also return kicks for Miami. If the Dolphins choose to cut Jakeem Grant to save some cap space, Uphoff could be a viable option in the return game.

One of the bigger knocks against Uphoff is his statistical output. in 2019 (he didn’t play in 2020 yet), Uphoff only put up 70 tackles and only two interceptions. That doesn’t necessarily mean he can’t be a good player in the NFL, but against weaker competition, it is a bit of a red flag. This, however, shouldn’t deter the Dolphins who have benefited from choosing hard-working players on day 3 of the draft.

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