Phin Phanatic
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Eric Rowe: one of the Miami Dolphins most valuable defenders

By George Forder

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 31: Cornerback Eric Rowe #21 of the Miami Dolphins looks on during Training Camp at Baptist Health Training Complex on July 31, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 31: Cornerback Eric Rowe #21 of the Miami Dolphins looks on during Training Camp at Baptist Health Training Complex on July 31, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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PULLMAN, WA – NOVEMBER 23: Connor Halliday #12 of the Washington State Cougars shakes hands with Eric Rowe #18 of the Utah Utes after the game at Martin Stadium on November 23, 2013 in Pullman, Washington. The Cougars defeated the Utes 49-37. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
PULLMAN, WA – NOVEMBER 23: Connor Halliday #12 of the Washington State Cougars shakes hands with Eric Rowe #18 of the Utah Utes after the game at Martin Stadium on November 23, 2013 in Pullman, Washington. The Cougars defeated the Utes 49-37. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

Rowe was born October 3, 1992 in Cleveland Ohio, but moved around quite a bit with his mother Denise, father Nelson and two sisters. He would end up attending Klein High School in Spring Texas (a suburb of Houston) where he participated in football, basketball, and track & field. He was an all-district basketball player as a junior and first-team all-district (third team all state) in football his senior year (2010). He was also a member of National Honor Society.

Rowe was graded as a three-star recruit coming out of high school and was ranked as the 450th best prospect in the nation for the 2010 recruiting class. After making it as a regular in the NFL, Rowe didn’t forget where he came from-returning to Klein to speak to students and even helped the program financially. He’s obviously a wealthy person at this point, but the gesture speaks volumes about his character.

"“He called me one day, he said ‘Coach, I got a deal with Under Armour, what do you need?’ And with in a month, we had practice pants, practice jerseys, shorts for workouts, compression shirts, and then he calls back and says ‘What about basketball?’ Next thing you know, they’re getting new jerseys and game uniforms. So it’s things that he doesn’t have to do. He didn’t have to do those things. He doesn’t have to be here today, but he understands the responsibility that comes with what he’s been given and what he’s been blessed with.” -Shane Hallmark (Klein’s head coach) via Fox26 Houston"

Rowe decided to attend Utah to play his college football. He made an immediate impact, starting all thirteen games (10 at FS and 3 at SS) in 2011 earning himself a place as a Freshman All-American. For the next three years he was a regular starter, mostly at free safety while switching to corner for his senior year (2014). Rowe earned numerous distinctions throughout his collegiate career, including multiple honorable mentions for the all Pac-12 team and even made the Pac-12 All-Academic second-team.

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Eric earned himself an invite to the 2015 Reese’s Senior Bowl and made some noise in draft circles because of his versatility, size, and athleticism. Speaking of athleticism, Rowe was one of the best athletes in all of the 2015 draft class. He had the third highest R.A.S. score of all draft eligible players (9.97 out of 10), one spot behind Miami’s own Byron Jones.

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