While the Miami Dolphins are concentrating on making a run for the playoffs this season, it is never too early to start thinking about the 2025 NFL draft.

The Dolphins have area scouts on the road, attending various college games and visiting campuses to evaluate the best for 2025.

USA Today has come out with its latest first-round mock draft Wednesday.

Writer Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz based his mock draft on the draft order based on the current standings, and the Dolphins currently would have the 10th selection with their 3-6 record. With that 10th overall pick, Middlehurst-Schwartz projected safety Malaki Starks from the University of Georgia going to the Dolphins.

Part of his reasoning is Jevon Holland is a pending free agent, as are fellow safeties Jorday Poyer, Marcus Mayes and Elijah Campbell.

“While the NFL hasn’t had a safety selected in the top 10 since Jamal Adams went sixth overall in 2017, Starks should earn consideration to go early on Day 1 as a do-it-all defender who constantly puts himself in position to make big plays,” Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote.

Starks has 31 tackles this season, one interception, and one pass broken up. His statistics are down this season compared to the last two seasons when he was involved in more passes broken up and had more interceptions.

Starks had one of his best games against then-ranked No. 1 Texas when he had seven tackles and led the Bulldogs to a 30-15 upset victory in Austin.

The Dolphins’ only safety under contract for 2025 is rookie sixth-round pick Patrick McMorris, who was placed on injured reserve on August 29 but began practicing again last week.

Miami Dolphins On SI on Social Media

Data Skrive

At 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the Kent State Golden Flashes (0-9) take on Keyon Mozee and the Miami (OH) RedHawks (5-4).

The matchup is on ESPNU, if you’re searching for how to watch.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.

Learn more about the Miami (OH) RedHawks and the Kent State Golden Flashes.

How to Watch Miami (OH) vs. Kent State

• When: Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 7 p.m. ET
• Location: Fred C. Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio
• Live Box Score: FOX Sports

Read More About This Game

• Miami (OH) vs. Kent State Predictions

Miami (OH) vs. Kent State: Head to Head

• Against Kent State, Miami (OH) has totaled two wins over the past two matchups.
• The RedHawks’ record ATS is 2-0 in the last two times they have gone up against the Golden Flashes while the scoring hasn’t managed to go over the total.
• Kent State has scored 23 fewer points than Miami (OH) in their past two games.

Miami (OH)’s 2024 Schedule

Miami (OH) 2024 Stats & Insights

• Miami (OH) is totaling 352.8 yards per game on offense (99th in the FBS), and rank 39th on defense, yielding 335.4 yards allowed per game.
• From an offensive standpoint, Miami (OH) ranks 71st in the FBS with 226.6 passing yards per game. Meanwhile, the defense ranks 32nd in passing yards allowed per contest (194.1).
• Defensively, the RedHawks have been a top-25 unit, ranking 25th-best by surrendering just 20 points per game. They rank 102nd on offense (23.2 points per game).
• The RedHawks are averaging 126.2 rushing yards per game on offense, which ranks them 98th in the FBS. On the defensive side of the ball, they rank 59th, allowing 141.3 rushing yards per contest.
• Miami (OH) has been a bottom-25 offense on third down this season, ranking 17th-worst with a 33.9% third-down conversion rate. Defensively, the RedHawks rank 95th in the FBS (42.1% third-down percentage allowed).
• With 14 forced turnovers (45th in the FBS) against 10 turnovers committed (35th in the FBS), the RedHawks’ +4 turnover margin ranks 34th in college football.

Miami (OH) 2024 Key Players

Kent State’s 2024 Schedule

Kent State 2024 Stats & Insights

• Kent State has plenty of room to get better, as it ranks worst in total yards per game (235.8) and worst in total yards allowed per game (526.9).
• In terms of passing, this season has been hard for Kent State on both offense and defense, as it is posting just 161.3 passing yards per contest (10th-worst) and ceding 263.1 passing yards per game (15th-worst).
• The Golden Flashes have plenty of room to improve, as they rank second-worst in points per game (15.1) this season and worst in points surrendered per game (46).
• In terms of rushing, this season has been ugly for the Golden Flashes on both sides of the ball, as they are compiling just 74.4 rushing yards per contest (worst) and allowing 263.8 rushing yards per game (worst).
• In terms of third-down efficiency, this season has been difficult for Kent State on both sides of the ball, as it is averaging a 19.3% third-down conversion rate (worst) and allowing a 47.9% conversion rate (seventh-worst).
• The Golden Flashes have fared poorly in terms of turnovers, as the team’s turnover margin of -10 is ninth-worst in the FBS.

Kent State 2024 Key Players

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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College Football

FORT LAUDERDALE – CBS News Miami is once again on the hunt for the most outstanding high school football player in South Florida.  

This week’s Nat Moore Trophy nominee goes to American Heritage wide receiver Malachi Toney, who as a freshman already had college football teams looking to recruit him. He has reclassified from the 2026 to 2025 class.

And he has a specific group of people to thank for his drive.

Toney has always been a confident player but his freshman year things changed.

“My first game I had 103 yards a freshman,” Toney said. “That’s when I was like I could really do it. That motivated me and put a lot of confidence in me.”

He’s kept that skill level up, with more than 40 Division I offers this year.

“I had 30 as a freshman,” Toney said.

It all started when he was younger.

“My uncle used to take us to the beach,” Toney said.  “I used to play tackle in the streets with my brothers. It’s just been my first love”

But he wouldn’t have been here without women. He credits his success solely to the strong women in his family.

“Growing up I didn’t have the most money but my mom still grind and put shoes and clothes on our back and feet so for her I’ll be forever grateful and thankful,” he said.

This past August, he lost a core member of his support group.

His aunt Reba lost her battle against cancer.

“We grew up together,” he said. “She helped my mom raise me to the young man I am today.”

He said he’s making it to the NFL to support the women who’ve supported him, especially his late aunt Reba.

“So for her I gotta fulfill my destiny,” Toney  said. “There is no other plan, no other option.”

The four finalists will be announced at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 live on CBS News Miami and streaming. Mike Cugno will be live from Hard Rock Stadium will interview this year’s class .

You too can nominate your favorite high school football player at NatMooreTrophy.com.