Rookie FB D.J. Herman Has One Shocking Advantage, And It Still Might Not Be Enough

Alright, listen up, 12s. We’re deep in the NFL regular season grind, but even when it’s not our guys making headlines, there's always something wild happening across the league. Case in point: the Miami Dolphins are gearing up for their training camp later this month, and seriously, their roster looks like a whole new team. After a massive offseason overhaul, they've shed a bunch of veterans and brought in a ton of new blood. They just signed former UFL tackle Gottlieb Ayedze and made some other moves, and get this: they’re currently sitting at 91 players! Ninety-one! That's a lot of bodies trying to make a name for themselves, and not every single one of those guys is on equal footing, you know? We’re talking about the long shots today, the guys ranked way down there in importance, and one of them, a rookie fullback, has a bizarre leg up that still might not save him.

The Numbers Game is BRUTAL for These Rookies

Let's talk about the bottom of the barrel, importance-wise, as these rankings go. Anthony Hankerson, a rookie free agent running back, is down at number 85. He's got three other young guns fighting to either snag a spot from Jaylen Wright or Ollie Gordon II, or convince the team to keep four halfbacks. Hankerson didn't look totally out of place in practices open to the media, but let's be real, that's a world away from actually making the final 53-man roster. It's a brutal road for an undrafted guy. Then there's Donaven M

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cCulley, a wide receiver out of Michigan, ranked 84th. This dude has an intriguing build, almost like a tight end, which is kinda cool. But here’s the problem: the Dolphins are absolutely stacked at wide receiver. They signed veterans Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell, then drafted Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell, and Kevin Coleman Jr. Plus, Malik Washington and Theo Wease Jr. are still around. Where in the Emerald City are they supposed to find room for McCulley with all that talent? It’s a tough break, man.

The Lone Fullback With a Mountain to Climb

Now, get this, ranked 83rd is fullback D.J. Herman, and he’s got the weirdest advantage: he is the *only* fullback currently on their roster. You'd think that's a lock, right? A guaranteed spot? Not so fast, my friend. The reality is that rookie Will Kacmarek, a tight end, could easily fill those fullback responsibilities. On top of that, Herman is transitioning from being a college linebacker, which is a big jump, though he apparently looked good catching the ball. Even with no competition at his exact position, it still feels like a long shot for him to make the 53. Can you believe it? The only one, and still probably not safe. So, as we look ahead to training camp at the end of July, the stakes are ridiculously high for these guys, especially D.J. Herman. His NFL dream hangs by a thread, even with that quirky "only fullback" status. It just goes to show you how cutthroat this league is, where every single player, no matter their advantage, has to fight like crazy to earn their spot.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.