Miami, FL

Ten Players to Watch in Preseason Finale

Published

1 year ago

August 23, 2024

Ten Players to Watch in Preseason Finale

The Miami Dolphins will close their preseason schedule against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ramond James Stadium on Friday night, giving roster bubble players one last chance to make their case to the coaching staff.

Those players who won’t dress for that first game for non-injury reasons pretty much are the locks to make the 53-player roster, and conversely those in the lineup either will be trying to offer more evidence they should be on the 2024 team or at the very least get a bigger role on offense or defense.

With that in mind, here is our list of 10 players to watch in that preseason finale against the Buccaneers:

QB SKYLAR THOMPSON

Because we’re talking about quarterbacks, the battle for the No. 2 job behind Tua Tagovailoa might have been the most scrutinized of training camp. Thompson has gotten the call ahead of Mike White in each of the first two preseason games, which might or might not signal he’s ahead in the competition. If he is, it’s probably not by a large margin and Thompson could solidify that No. 2 spot (if he currently has it) or at the very least his spot on the roster with a good outing against Tampa Bay.

QB MIKE WHTE

When head coach Mike McDaniel talked this week about putting his backup quarterbacks in unfavorable situations to see how they would respond, that’s applied more to White than Thompson in preseason games because he closed out the first two games. Another factor to consider when it comes to White is the Dolphins could save $3.5 million of cap space if they decide to go with Thompson as the backup and release White. This clearly is a big game for him as well.

TE TANNER CONNER

It’s unclear how many tight ends the Dolphins will keep on the 53-man roster and Conner could convince the Dolphins they need to keep him around if he can have another performance like he had in the preseason opener before he was sidelined by a midsection injury.

OL JACK DRISCOLL

This isn’t about a roster spot, but rather a potential starting opportunity for Driscoll based on McDaniel’s comment before practice in Tampa on Wednesday when he said there still was competition going on the offensive line. Driscoll’s performance in training camp was solid all the way through and he’s also done the job in the preseason games, and maybe another good outing could be the last push he needs.

OL LESTER COTTON

If Driscoll does end up winning a starting job, it’s Cotton who appears the most vulnerable. He started at right guard in the two preseason games after Liam Eichenberg moved to center in the wake of Aaron Brewer’s hand injury but hasn’t necessarily done anything to cement his spot in the starting lineup.

DT BRANDON PILI

As we discussed in our fourth 53-man roster projection, the Dolphins have a lot of question marks on their defensive line beyond Zach Sieler and Calais Campbell and Pili is right in the mix. He’s made some plays in camp and the preseason and already might have locked up his roster spot, though another good outing wouldn’t hurt.

DT ISAIAH MACK

Mack lacks the ideal bulk for the interior of the defensive line, but he has been active along the defensive line, to the point where he’s put himself in the conversation for a roster spot. But he’s still a long shot, one who needs a big outing against Tampa Bay to push his way in.

LB CHANNING TINDALL

Yes, we’re mentioning Tindall again. While we’re thinking he’s got a spot on the roster because of his special teams work, it might be a stretch to say he’s a lock or that he couldn’t benefit from a good preseason finale. If nothing else, a strong performance maybe could give his defensive coaches more confidence to put him in the lineup.

CB NIK NEEDHAM

It’s difficult to think of a more household name among players who appear on the roster bubble than Needham, who has been with the team since 2019, longer than anybody outside of Durham Smythe and Jason Sanders. Needham finds himself in a logjam in the secondary, whether the Dolphins decide to consider him as a safety or cornerback, or even both. A big preseason finale could be what Needham needs to secure his roster spot.

S MARK PERRY

Perry is at the other end of the spectrum, a rookie free agent who’s put himself in position to be considered for a roster spot but still needs a strong finishing push. We could have mentioned the three rookie free agent cornerbacks here — Jason Maitre, Storm Duck and Isaiah Johnson — but we’e already highlighted them and now it’s time for Perry to get his due respect.

Source link

Miami, FL

College football player transferred from Miami to Indiana before national championship

Published

55 minutes ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

College football player transferred from Miami to Indiana before national championship

A player who spent most of the 2025 season with College Football Playoff finalist Miami has now joined the Indiana program ahead of the national championship game.

Tight end Brock Schott was with the Hurricanes until Jan. 2 when he entered the NCAA transfer portal as Miami was still in the playoff.

Last week, he committed to the Hoosiers, before they went on to make the national title game, too.

Schott announced on Jan. 5 that he was joining the Indiana program.

The addition of Schott could give the Hoosiers an advantage as the freshman from Indiana knows the Miami playbook, as well as the team’s signals.

Brock Schott appeared in two games for Miami this season, catching a pair of passes for 24 yards. Both of his catches came in a 45-3 win over Bethune-Cookman.

Prior to joining the Miami program, Schott was a four-star recruit who was one of the top tight end prospects in the country.

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound player caught 28 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns as a senior at Leo High School. He also played defense, recording 52 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles in 11 games.

Schott had an even better season as a junior, catching 35 passes for 743 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, he had 32 tackles for loss and 19 sacks as a junior.

Miami and Indiana are set to meet in the national championship game on Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Source link

Miami, FL

Three Kings Festival brings business, big crowds to Little Havana

Published

13 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Three Kings Festival brings business, big crowds to Little Havana

Miami’s Three Kings Festival, centered around the annual Three Kings Parade in Little Havana, celebrates the Epiphany with a vibrant parade down Calle Ocho, featuring floats, music, and cultural performances, typically held the Sunday after Three Kings Day.

Source link

Miami, FL

NBA Mock Trade: Miami Heat Go All-In For LaMelo Ball In Deal With Charlotte Hornets

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

NBA Mock Trade: Miami Heat Go All-In For LaMelo Ball In Deal With Charlotte Hornets

Rumors have swirled around Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball for several seasons, recently heating up ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. Despite coming into the season with a promising young core, headlined by the All-Star guard, Charlotte’s struggles have persisted.

Ball has been largely inefficient in a new-look rotation, shooting just 41% from the field, tying the second-lowest mark of his career thus far. Monitoring teams around the league, several suitors could offer enticing returns for Ball, but one Eastern Conference club is one of the more sensible destinations for the Hornets guard: the Miami Heat. Here’s a mock trade that sees Ball moved to South Beach:

Charlotte Hornets-Miami Heat Mock Trade & Fantasy Basketball Impact

Jan 3, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Lamelo Ball (1) drives the ball against Chicago Bulls forward Isaac Okoro (35) during the first half at United Center. | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Charlotte Hornets receive Andrew Wiggins, Simone Fontecchio, 2029 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick

Miami Heat receive LaMelo Ball

A trade to a consistent playoff contender could help Ball overcome lasting narratives that have surrounded the star point guard. Fans, media personnel and coaches alike have speculated over Ball’s commitment and ability to buy in throughout his career, something that could be overcome with a trade to the Heat.

In Miami, Ball could contribute to a winning culture for a team prepared to re-enter title contention after moving on from Jimmy Butler last season. The Heat would roll out a big-three consisting of Ball, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, a trio that has the potential to emerge as one of the top in the NBA.

From a fantasy basketball standpoint, his stock could take a noticeable leap in an improved situation. Ball would take on greater scoring responsibility, while retaining his role as the offense’s primary ball-handler. With two co-stars and a plethora of perimeter shooters, he could overcome an inconsistent start to the season and hit his stride down the stretch of the year.

Why The Hornets Make The Trade

Dec 22, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) dribbles the ball in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. | David Richard-Imagn Images

While Ball has brought his stardom to the Hornets, the team has struggled throughout his career, failing to reach the postseason in his first six seasons. Charlotte has pieced together a promising young wing duo of Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, two key contributors for the Hornets to build around as they establish an improved culture over the next several seasons. While he’s just 24 years old, I’m not confident Ball fits alongside this hypothetical new-look Hornets club, considering previous frustrations with the team.

Why The Heat Make The Trade

Apr 2, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) is congratulated by guard Tyler Herro (14) after making a basket during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Miami has sought a trade for a star player to help the team return to title contention, a billing that Ball fits perfectly. He presents a consistent floor general to help the Heat’s offense overcome a slow start to the season, ranking 20th in the NBA in defensive rating to this point of the season (114.8). I love Ball’s fit alongside the likes of Herro and Adebayo, taking pressure off the two All-Stars with consistent playmaking and versatile scoring ability. The Ball-led Heat would be set up for title contention over the next several years.