Rupert Bryan Jr., who holds a record with the Panthers football program by having 43 starts at offensive tackle, which he gained in his career with the team from 2009 to 2012, has been signed onto the 90- man roster of the Miami Dolphins as a fullback.
Bryan’s addition to the Dolphins roster adds to the AFC count of former Panther football players in the conference. He joins the number 33 overall pick in the draft, the first pick in the second round,in Jonathan Cyprien, sixth-round pick Tourek Williams, and undrafted free agents Caylin Hauptmann and Jose Cheeseborough. He also helps the total number of FIU players in the league grow to seven with Junior Mertile joining the New York Giants in the NFC.
Bryan, reportedly ran a 4.8 second 40-yard dash at the FIU pro day in March before the NFL Draft. He did so while working out as a fullback, but did not impress enough to get a call over the three-day draft in late April. He was soon, though, invited to the Miami Dolphins rookie mini-camp and has done enough to be on the 90-man roster.
The fullback scored only once in his senior season with a five- yard run against Florida Atlantic University in the Shula Bowl. The Panthers were victorious in that game winning with a score of 34 – 24.
After the news broke his former teammate, Long Snapper Brandon Taylor, had this to say on facebook:
“My dude Rupert Bryan headed to the Miami Dolphins. Hard work and dedication pay off.”
Bryan had this to say via facebook about his joining the Miami Dolphins:
“Thank God for his graces that has shined upon me and blessing with this opportunity to work for the NFL. Most importantly may God bless every person that has supported me and sent up prayers for me during this journey in life. I make sure to keep you all in my prayers as I continue on this new chapter in life.”
Pete Pelegrin of fiusports.com had three consecutive tweets about Bryan with the following.
“Dolphins sign @FIUFootball OL Rupert Bryan,” “Rupert Bryan will compete at Fullback for the Dolphins,” and “Rupert Bryan is 3rd former @FIUFootball player to sign with dolphins after the late Chandler Williams and Andy Leavine.”
Chandler Williams was a wide receiver while Leavine lined up at left guard mostly for the Panthers.
Teams must cut down to the 53 active man roster count by the end of the summer, after the fifth and final preseason game.
The Dolphins preseason schedule includes the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio against the Dallas Cowboys on August 4. Bryan, if still on the roster, will face former teammate Cyprien on August 9 when they travel to Jacksonville. The Dolphins will travel to Houston to take on the Texans on August 17 and the first time that Bryan will get to show his talents for the team at Sun Life Stadium will be in the third week of the preseason versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 24. The final time the former offensive lineman will get to show his skills to the team will be on August 29, when the Dolphins take on the New Orleans Saints in Miami.