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Miami Dolphins invest in diverse running backs in three straight NFL Drafts: A breakdown

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Miami Dolphins invest in diverse running backs in three straight NFL Drafts: A breakdown


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  • The Miami Dolphins have two contrasting running back styles in De’Von Achane, known for his speed, and rookie Ollie Gordon II, a powerful runner.
  • The Dolphins are looking to revitalize their run game after the departure of Mostert and Wilson, adding Gordon and Jaylen Wright to the backfield alongside Achane.
  • Coach Mike McDaniel emphasized Gordon’s potential and expects him to improve upon his 2023 college performance.

MIAMI GARDENS — It’s kind of funny how two people can have the exact same job title and description but do it in entirely different ways.

Consider the plight of Miami Dolphins running backs De’Von Achane and Ollie Gordon II.

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Technically, they’re both running backs. But Gordon, the rookie, is four inches taller and 38 pounds heavier than Achane.

Thirty eight pounds!

Achane opened eyes in his 2023 rookie season with burst and speed and acceleration.

Whoosh!

Gordon, who slipped to the sixth round in the 2025 NFL Draft, wants to stiff-arm, barrel though and over you.

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Wham!

“I’m a bruiser,’ Gordon said during the NFL Draft. “I’m going to run through you. I’m going to make you want to not tackle me. Late in games. And beginning of games.”

When players at a certain position come in various shapes and sizes, coaches will inevitably push back against weakness assumptions.

Yes, Achane is small. But he’s tough.

Yes, Gordon is powerful. But he’s agile, too.

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Yes, Achane is a great receiver. But Gordon is better than you may realize, too.

We can insert the spring-time and summer-time quotes that haven’t been quoted yet here. But make no mistake, there will be quotes.

“I saw a lot of really good stuff,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said of Gordon’s film after the back was selected.

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Ollie Gordon II: ‘I’m a bruiser.’

Specially, McDaniel saw a lot of really good stuff in 2023, when Gordon was named the best running back in college football and ran for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns.

“We feel optimistic that is the version that we’re going to improve upon moving forward,” McDaniel said, acknowledging 2024 was not as good for Gordon.

Gordon is 6-foot-1, 226 pounds.

Achane is 5-foot-9, 188 pounds.

The Dolphins have moved on from Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, two quality backs McDaniel also worked with in San Francisco.

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Including 2024 draft pick Jaylen Wright, the Dolphins have hit on that position in three straight “NFL Annual Player Selection Meetings.”

That’s intentional.

McDaniel wants to re-establish the run game that went awry in 2024.

That’s why James Daniels and Jonah Savaiinaea were added to play guard and massive Patrick Paul was selected to succeed Pro Bowler Terron Armstead.

McDaniel figures to increase total runs. And he’s going to reward physicality.

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Wright is sort of a hybrid of Achane and Gordon

He’s big and fast. This trio of youngsters is intriguing.

Achane is 23. Wright is 22. Gordon is 21.

Talk about a wave of youth.

If Gordon were Eddie George or Jonathan Taylor, Ollie Gordon would not have slipped to the sixth round. A DUI in the summer of 2024 surely did not help him.

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But the upright running style and a battery of stiff arms are reminiscent, at least.

“Honestly, my mindset is me versus you, and I’m banking on me every time,” Gordon said. “I can’t sit here and lie to you. I’m banking on me every time.”

Miami Dolphins update: RB Ollie Gordon II selected in NFL Draft

Gordon will need to be all-in from Day 1 to come close to the impact Achane had a rookie. It’s a great competition in that room, with plenty of talent and depth.

Clearly Achane is projected to get the most touches.

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But if Gordon can gain the coaches’ trust – he’s already known as a reliable pass-blocker – he has a chance at some meaningful rookie carries.

It’s best when each player knows their role.

Gordon, the rookie, seems to know his.

“You’re going to get out of my way,” Gordon said. “Or I’m going to run through you.”

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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.





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Miami, FL

Video shows arrest of ex-North Miami school worker accused of showing explicit photo to student

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Video shows arrest of ex-North Miami school worker accused of showing explicit photo to student


NORTH MIAMI, Fla. — New video obtained exclusively by Local 10 News on Thursday shows the arrest of a former maintenance worker who also worked as a security guard at Mater Academy in North Miami who authorities say is accused of showing an explicit photo to a 15-year-old student.

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North Miami police say 61-year-old Adolfo Eusebio Cotarelo is seen in cafeteria surveillance video holding up his phone as he spoke to the victim on Oct. 10 in the charter school’s cafeteria.

Investigators said he allegedly showed her a photo of himself in bed next to a woman wearing only a bra and made sexually explicit comments.

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“Look at his face — disgusting, disgusting individual,” a parent said after seeing the video.

According to North Miami police, Cotarelo was arrested five days later at the school.

Additional body camera video shows him being led into a room at the North Miami Police Department before officers place him in handcuffs. He had the word “maintenance” printed across his shirt.

Authorities say Cotarelo asked the girl inappropriate questions, including how she would “please herself,” and told her she could use a secluded area of the school’s third floor to be alone with a boy she liked.

“He really is disgusting. I wish these things wouldn’t happen, but what can you do?” another parent stated.

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Police said Cotarelo’s statements during questioning “changed constantly,” though he admitted to several details the victim described.

Surveillance video confirmed that he approached the student in the cafeteria and appeared to show her something on his cellphone.

Investigators fear there may be additional victims.

In a statement, Mater Academy Biscayne North Miami High School said:

“Upon learning of inappropriate comments made by a staff member to a student, we immediately conducted an investigation with law enforcement. The individual has been removed from their position and will not return. Student safety remains our top priority.”

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“I’m just glad they caught him and he’s off the streets,” another parent told Local 10’s Rosh Lowe.

Jail records show Cotarelo, of Hialeah, faces a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm. He was initially booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and released on a $5,000 bond.

Police continue to investigate and urge anyone with information about additional incidents to contact the NMPD at 305- 891-0294.

Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.

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Heat fall to the Magic in season opener 125-121

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Heat fall to the Magic in season opener 125-121


Heat Magic Basketball Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra reacts to his team as they play against the Orlando Magic during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Kevin Kolczynski/AP)

ORLANDO. Fla. — The Miami Heat opened the 2025–26 regular season on the road Wednesday, falling to the in-state rival Orlando Magic, 125–121, in a back-and-forth matchup.

Norman Powell led Miami with 28 points in his Heat debut, while Bam Adebayo added 15 points and 12 rebounds.

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The Heat came out strong, scoring 39 points in the first quarter and hitting 6 of 11 from 3-point range to take a 39–38 lead — the highest-scoring quarter in the 143-game history between the teams.

Miami cooled off in the second quarter, scoring just 26 points as Orlando took a 69–65 lead into halftime.

The Heat’s shooting struggles continued in the second half, hitting only 1 of 8 from beyond the arc in the third, though their defense kept the game close. Miami led 91–90 entering the fourth quarter.

The Heat built a seven-point lead midway through the final period but went more than four minutes without a field goal. Jalen Suggs put the Magic ahead for good with a midrange jumper with 58.7 seconds remaining.

The loss marked Miami’s second straight season-opening defeat against Orlando.

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The Heat look to bounce back Friday when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies.

Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.

Pablo Hernandez

Pablo Hernandez

Pablo Hernandez is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born in Cuba and has lived in Miami, Florida since 2002.



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Allen: Miami season a failure without a trophy

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Allen: Miami season a failure without a trophy


Inter Miami CF defender Noah Allen insists the team enters the MLS Cup playoffs with high expectations, emphasizing that anything less than lifting the trophy would be considered a failure.

“Yeah [it’s a failure for if Inter Miami don’t win MLS Cup]. We have high expectations for ourselves,” Allen said.

“I feel like we have the highest standard in ourselves and we want to win every trophy possible. Yeah, we want to win.”

Inter Miami concluded the MLS regular season in third place on the Eastern Conference table with 65 points, drawing Nashville SC for the best-of-three Round One playoff series.

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The Herons will host Nashville on Friday night at Chase Stadium for the first match, and secured home-field advantage for the potential third game due to table placement.

“I’m very excited about the playoffs. I have confidence in my team; we have the best of all time, and well, we’re really excited,” Rodrigo De Paul said.

“But football doesn’t always win the best or the one who deserves it most. We have to keep that percentage of luck as low as possible, and whatever work it takes, give everything we have to do our best so that the playoffs go our way.”

Inter Miami are familiar with their Round One opponent, concluding the regular-season campaign with a 5-2 triumph over Nashville on Oct. 18. Now the team will prepare for at least two more games against the same rival.

Lionel Messi, who scored three goals against Nashville in the final game to secure the 2025 MLS Golden Boot, failed to train in the first 15 minutes of the session on Oct. 21. The reason behind his absence is unknown.

Inter Miami were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in 2024 which has motivated them for this year’s post-season.

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– MLS Cup playoff Power Rankings: Bet against Miami at your own peril
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– Messi’s final-day hat trick clinches MLS Golden Boot

“I feel like we have a good relationship between each other and I feel like we play good football with the ball. We keep a lot of possession and I just feel like we have to have that confidence that we are the best team in the league,” Allen said.

“Yeah, it’s not a sense of urgency. There’s not a panic or anything. It’s more of a motivation, right? And especially the guys that were here last year, I think everyone remembers it.

“And I think it’s been a message around the whole offense that everyone can understand is that it’s difficult, right?

“It’s not traditional, some players may agree, some players may not agree, but we have to do it. We have to win two games.”

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