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)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fphinphanatic-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1299651312-850x560-06cd370a769275f66513c15fdfa9d532806c647ccc292b84e4d201d7765f2f83.jpg)
Malcolm Koonce, EDGE, Buffalo
2020 stats: 30 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 passes defended (stats courtesy of ESPN.com)
Koonce has a motor that Brian Flores could fall in love with during the scouting process.
Another Senior Bowl invitee on this list, Koonce wasn’t the most disruptive pass rusher in college football over the course of his career. He ended his career with 18 sacks which, over four years, a little low. Yet, he has one of those intangibles that I could easily see Brian Flores and company choosing to spend a late-round pick on.
He has hustle. And he does not give up on plays until the whistle is blown.
If you watch some of Koonce’s highlights, his repertoire of pass rush moves won’t excite you. But, if you focus on how relentless he is chasing opposing quarterbacks and running backs, you can see considerable upside in his game.
Koonce should be another one of those day 3 picks who could get some reps on special teams at the start of the season. I could also see him being a rotational pass rusher if Flores can tap into his athletic potential.