Miami Dolphins Transcripts – August 31 – DB Elijah Campbell, LB Trey Flowers, RB Myles Gaskin, TE Mike Gesicki, S Jevon Holland, CB Kader Kohou and Roster Moves

LB Trey Flowers

(How tricky is it to spend that time away from a team knowing you don’t really have specifics to study?) – “It was something different for me, obviously, since I’ve been here, but it was a learning process. I took it as a blessing and a lesson, just being able to rest my body, spend time with family. I kind of look at the positives. And then being blessed and being able to sign here, it definitely makes it easier with the group of guys that are in this locker room that work hard and I could just kind of – I know I’m a vet, but I still have to come in and kind of watch and see how they do it and figure it out.”

(Since mid-March, have you worked out anywhere else before the Dolphins one last Wednesday?) – “No, that was my first workout.”

(General Manager Chris Grier after saying a bunch of nice things about you said you don’t have to be a star here. Obviously, you’ve been a starter so much of your career. Are you at peace here coming and being part of a rotation with LB Jaelan Phillips, LB Andrew Van Ginkel, LB Melvin Ingram,?) – “Yes, like I said, I’m all about winning. However that comes, I’m going to put my best foot forward. I’m going to go out there and give it my all, however that comes. Like I said, there’s a great group of guys in this locker room that make a lot of plays, very productive guys. So however that comes, if we’re winning, I’m happy.”

(You signed pretty late. Was there a part of you that was maybe resigned yourself to, “Maybe I’m not playing this season”?) – “No.”

(You knew a call was coming?) – “Yes, you have faith. You just have to believe that God is going to answer your prayers.”

(Are you glad it’s Miami because obviously familiarity with Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer and the system and also it’s a good team?) – “Yeah, it’s definitely a good situation. Like you said, familiarity with the system and the group of guys in this locker room as I’ve seen the last couple of days, just being able to be productive. It’s looking good this year, so I’m excited.”

(How close is this defense to the one that you were with under Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer before?) – “What do you mean? Under Josh Boyer? Or are you saying in the past?”

(In the past, right.) – “Are you talking about the scheme or?”

(Yes, the scheme. Is it like 80 percent, 50 percent, very similar?) – “Yes, I mean defense is defense. Everybody kind of runs the same thing, but some of the standards of just attacking the football, running out the football, that’s just what great defense is about. So all those are similar, obviously, but the wording, I kind of got a little recall from it. So it helps a little bit, yes.”

(I have a weird question out of left field here. Considering you played for them last year, have you been watching Hard Knocks at all and see some of your former teammates there?) – “No, I don’t even have cable, man. (laughter) I just moved to my spot, and I just have internet right now. I might get cable, but no, I haven’t.”

(Did you get a sense they brought you in to work out, that it went well and that it was going to work out this way for you?) – “Yes, I knew I was prepared to do a workout. I was training in the offseason. I was prepared for it, and I just hoped that it did work out. Obviously, it did. I said my prayers and God answered.”

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

RB Myles Gaskin

(Was there ever a time where you thought, “The odds are against me, they keep adding all these running backs?”) – “No. I guess I got the pressure from my parents and other people. But at the end of the day, I love football and I just want to play football and I just want to get better. Obviously, I want to be here, but at the end of the day, what got me here was just working every single day and believing in myself.”

(Did that do anything for you seeing the team add three running backs motivation-wise?) – “Motivation, obviously, but at the same time, I was able to pick up a few things from these guys. I’m learning from Chase (Edmonds), me and him being kind of the same type of back, smaller type, so I’m learning things from those type of guys. Like I said, I believe in work, and I believe in staying consistent. That’s what’s been working for me, so why steer away from it?”

(What was the key for you adjusting to the new offense and scheme?) – “Work, studying like a kid again, like college or whatever. I’m making flashcards. I’m taking notes. I’m doing everything I can to pick it up as fast as I can so I can be able to be out there and instead of working on my keys, I’m actually out there ready to play. So that’s what I was working on.”

(Where was your confidence level that you would be on the 53-man roster when training camp began?) – “Where was my confidence level when training camp began? As high as it’s ever been. I’m a pretty confident dude just in general. Like I said, all I’ve known is work from a little child and I believe in hard work, and I believe in whatever happens once you put in that work is meant for you. You know what I’m saying? So I’m here and it was meant for me.”

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

CB Kader Kohou

(Through that college process, do you know any guys that were able to make it to the pros or anything like that?) – “I don’t know anybody in the NFL to be honest with you. I didn’t have anybody to lean on, really just my family and some of the friends that I went to school with.”

(When did you first start thinking that you had a really good shot of making the 53?) – “It’s the NFL. I knew I made the 53 when it came out. I didn’t have any feelings. I was like, it could’ve gone either way. I just knew I could play though. I feel like if I didn’t get a shot here, I was going to get a shot somewhere else, but I’m glad that I’m here though.”

(What are some of the keys, and some of the things you proved you could do this training camp?) – “Just being able to compete. Coming from D2 (Division II) it’s easy to say that whatever you did in D2 will be hard to do in the NFL because it’s the best level, so just showing that I could play with them, and just showing that I’m a competitor.”

(There are a lot of guys banged up at your position cutting into Week 1. If you’re asked to contribute a lot Week 1 are you ready for that?) – “Yes sir, I’m ready for it. Yes sir, definitely. I’ll leave it up to the coaches, but personally I feel like I am ready.”

(Did you have the feeling when you first got to camp that you had to show your teammates, “I may be D2 but I belong here”?) – “Yes, I’m always going to have that chip on my shoulder. I feel like anybody coming from D2, D1; you should have the chip on your shoulder because the guys in the locker room have been doing it, so it would be crazy for you to come in and not feel like you have to prove yourself to them because they’ve been doing it for years. You’re just a young college kid.”

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

DB Elijah Campbell

(On his preseason play) – “I was pretty confident on what I did in the preseason. I also try not to have a negative mindset, so I was pretty optimistic going into it. I went about my day as if it was any other day. I was like I’m getting ready for meetings and if I got the call, I got the call. I’ve been on that side of the chopping block before. I just knew what it was, so I tried to just take that thought process out of my head and just go on with my day.”

(If I could follow up on that, so this preseason, the three games were more important for you to show that you belonged?) – “For sure. Every game, any time you’re out there the film is rolling. Anything you put on film will stick with you for your whole career, so I think every game that you play in is important. But yes, I think it was important just to allow me to get on the defense and show that I can play defensively instead of just special teams.”

(So you shift into another gear now, because in less in two weeks it’s for real?) – “Yes sir. I’m looking forward to strapping up and going against the Pats for sure.”

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

TE Mike Gesicki

(How much do you think you grew in this training camp? Obviously learning a different position.) – “It’s been good. I think there’s been a lot of time invested in different aspects of my game that I haven’t before, and I think it’s going to continue to progress. It’s something that I’m excited about. I think it’ll be able to open up a little bit more of my game and then overall in the offense. I’m excited to continue to grow and develop.”

(Was it a little different waiting for cut-down day for you with everything swirling around and your name being mentioned and everything?) – “No. Honestly, no. I wasn’t – nothing ever really crossed my mind, but I just come in, come to work, do my thing and go about my business.”

(General Manager Chris Grier said yesterday that two teams called inquiring about you to trade, but they never called anyone. Obviously, they value you. Was that something he or Head Coach Mike McDaniel conveyed to you as rumors swirled the last couple of weeks?) – “No.”

(Pleased with how it worked out with you being here?) – “Am I pleased how it worked out? I do enjoy my time here, so yes (laughter).”

(We heard Head Coach Mike McDaniel say yesterday that he was happy about your response after all these little trade rumors came about. Just based on what you know about him and the time you spent around him, what does adversity mean to him? What does that opportunity to face adversity mean to him?) – “For him, it’s one of his rules and one of the things that he takes extremely serious, just because you can apply it in so many different ways in life, in the game and all that kind of stuff. So I wouldn’t really call that part adversity, but there is going to be adversity in games that you’re going to have to be able to go through and ride the peaks and the valleys and come out a better player and a better man because of it. So, absolutely.”

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

S Jevon Holland

(You’re playing against the Patriots, you have a bit of a rivalry. Do you think about that at all?) – “No, it’s a football game. You got to go out there and execute like every other week so no, not really. I’m happy to play again, though. It’s going to be fun.”

(Does it shift to another gear now that the preseason is over with? Now the mindset is totally different isn’t it?) – “In a way; we were trying to approached the preseason like the regular season so that everybody kind of ramps up the speed so by the time we hit the season we’re already running when we hit the ground. But this week for sure, definitely, ramping up the speed, running to the ball and things like that, and making sure you’re getting up your game conditioning.”

(We talked to some of your teammates who thought they maybe were on the bubble. When you looked around when they were here and the announcement made that they were here, what was the reactions?) – “At the end of the day it’s a business, and it’s upsetting that you build connections with guys throughout OTAs, throughout training camp, throughout the summer and they don’t end up making the team. But you hope that they have an opportunity somewhere else, or they come back and you’re still with them. But I know that a lot of guys that were on the cusp and on the bubble and they didn’t make the team; they all put their best foot forward especially in the preseason games. They’re going to get their opportunity soon.”

(You mentioned about the preseason and regular season, but now the mindset does change because now the games do count. Things do change how you guys prepare.) – “Yes, of course it’s the regular season.”


Miami Dolphins make roster moves

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have waived wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr., tackle Larnel Coleman, wide receiver River Cracraft, offensive lineman Kellen Diesch, linebacker Cameron Goode, linebacker Porter Gustin, defensive tackle Benito Jones, offensive lineman Solomon Kindley, safety Verone McKinley III, wide receiver Braylon Sanders, tackle Kion Smith, defensive tackle Ben Stille and wide receiver Preston Williams. The team also placed cornerback Byron Jones on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and linebacker Brennan Scarlett on injured reserve.

Bowden was traded to Miami from Las Vegas on Sept. 5, 2020. He played in 10 games with four starts for the Dolphins in 2020, totaling 28 receptions for 211 yards (7.5 avg.) before missing the entire 2021 season due to injury. Bowden originally entered the NFL as a third-round pick (80th overall) by the Raiders in the 2020 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at Kentucky.

Coleman was a seventh-round pick (231st overall) by Miami in the 2021 NFL Draft. He missed the 2021 season due to injury. Coleman was a four-year letterman (2017-20) and three-year starter at UMass, where he started 28 consecutive games at tackle to finish his collegiate career.

Cracraft signed with Miami on Feb. 17, 2022. He has played in 24 games with one start in his NFL career, making stops in Denver (2018-19) and San Francisco (2020-21). He’s totaled seven career receptions for 85 yards (12.1 avg.). Cracraft also has experience on special teams with 17 career punt returns for 80 yards (4.7 avg.), three kickoff returns for 43 yards (14.3 avg.) and five special teams tackles (three solo). He originally entered the NFL on Oct. 18, 2017 when he was signed to Denver’s practice squad. He played collegiately at Washington State.

Diesch signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted college free agent on May 13, 2022. He was a two-year starter (2020-21) at Arizona State after spending four seasons (2016-19) at Texas A&M. He started all 17 games at left tackle during his two seasons with the Sun Devils. At Texas A&M, Diesch appeared in 21 games and redshirted in 2016.

Goode was drafted by Miami in the seventh round (224th overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft. He lettered five times (2017-21) and was a three-year starter at California, where he earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors as a graduate student in 2021. In his collegiate career, Goode totaled 170 tackles (97 solo), 21.0 sacks, two interceptions, 12 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Gustin signed with Miami on June 8, 2022. He played three seasons (2019-21) in Cleveland, where he appeared in 26 games with four starts. He’s totaled 47 career tackles (23 solo), 1.0 sack and two fumble recoveries. Gustin also appeared in two playoff games, recording one tackle, one interception and one pass defensed. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with New Orleans on May 10, 2019 after playing collegiately at USC.

Benito Jones originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent on April 29, 2020 and has had multiple stints on Miami’s practice squad since then. He’s also appeared in six regular-season games – all during the 2020 season – and totaled two tackles (one solo). Jones played collegiately at Mississippi.

Byron Jones joined the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent from Dallas on March 21, 2020. He’s played in 109 career games with 103 starts, totaling 421 tackles (326 solo), four interceptions, 57 passes defensed and five forced fumbles. Jones earned second-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection in 2018. He was the Miami Dolphins’ Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee in 2020. Jones originally entered the NFL as a first-round pick (27th overall) by Dallas in the 2015 NFL Draft after a collegiate career at UConn.

Kindley was a fourth-round pick (111th overall) by Miami in the 2020 NFL Draft. He’s played in 29 career games with 15 starts for Miami since then. Kindley was a four-year letterman (2016-19) and three-year starter at Georgia, where he appeared in 43 games with 32 starts at guard.

McKinley signed with Miami as an undrafted college free agent on May 13, 2022. He was a three-year starter (2019-21) at Oregon and earned first-team All-American and first-team All-Pac 12 honors as a junior in 2021. He started all 14 games that seasons, recording 77 tackles (44 solo), six interceptions, 12 passes defensed and one forced fumble. In McKinley’s collegiate career, he recorded 11 interceptions in 38 games.

Sanders signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted college free agent on May 13, 2022. He was a five-year letterman (2017-21) for Mississippi, where he played in 46 games with 18 starts. As a graduate in 2021, he played in 12 games with 10 starts, totaling 24 receptions for 549 yards (22.9 avg.) and four touchdowns. His 22.9 receiving average led the SEC and was third nationally.

Scarlett joined Miami as an unrestricted free agent from Houston on March 22, 2021. He played in 13 games with four starts for the Dolphins last year, totaling 16 tackles (six solo), one pass defensed and three special teams stops. He spent the first five years of his NFL career in Houston (2016-20) after he was signed by the Texans as an undrafted college free agent on May 6, 2016. Scarlett played collegiately at California and Stanford.

Smith spent the 2021 season on Miami’s practice squad after he was signed on Sept. 2, 2021. He spent the 2021 offseason and training camp with Atlanta after originally signing with the Falcons as an undrafted college free agent on May 14, 2021. Smith was a three-year starter (2016-17, 2019) at Fayetteville State, where he earned first-team All-CIAA honors in 2019.

Stille signed with Miami as an undrafted college free agent on May 13, 2022. He was a five-year letterman (2017-21) and three-year starter at Nebraska, where he played in 53 games with 34 starts. He totaled 148 career tackles (69 solo), 14.5 sacks, seven passes defensed and one forced fumble. Stille was recognized as honorable mention All-Big Ten as a senior in 2020 and a graduate in 2021.

Williams joined the Dolphins as an undrafted college free agent on May 9, 2019. He has played in 24 games with 17 starts for Miami, totaling 56 receptions for 787 yards (14.1 avg.) and seven touchdowns. Williams played collegiately at Colorado State and Tennessee. He was a second-team All-American and first-team All-Mountain West selection in 2018 as he led Colorado State with 96 receptions for 1,345 yards (14.0 avg.) and 14 touchdowns.


Miami Dolphins make roster moves

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have released running back Sony Michel, offensive lineman Adam Pankey, wide receiver Mohamed Sanu Sr. and defensive back Quincy Wilson. Additionally, the team waived offensive lineman Blaise Andries, defensive lineman Owen Carney Jr., running back Gerrid Doaks, cornerback Elijah Hamilton, defensive tackle Niles Scott and running back ZaQuandre White. The team also placed linebacker Calvin Munson on injured reserve and waived/injured linebacker Darius Hodge and defensive back D’Angelo Ross.

Andries signed with Miami as an undrafted college free agent on May 13, 2022. He was a four-year starter (2018-21) at Minnesota, where he started all 46 career games. He started 21 contests at right guard, 11 at left guard, nine at right tackle and five at left tackle. As a senior in 2021, he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors while starting nine games at right guard, three at left tackle and one at right tackle.

Carney joined the Dolphins as an undrafted college free agent on May 13, 2022. He was a five-year letterman (2017-21) and three-year starter at Illinois, where he appeared in 55 games with 28 starts and recorded career totals of 115 tackles (52 solo), 16.0 sacks, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a graduate in 2021 and second-team All-Big Ten recognition as a senior in 2020. A Miami native, Carney helped Miami Central High School win a state title in 2015.

Doaks was a seventh-round pick (244th overall) by Miami in the 2021 NFL Draft and spent the 2021 campaign on the Dolphins’ practice squad. He was a three-year letterman (2017, 2019-20) at Cincinnati, where he played in 30 career games with 12 starts and earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors as a senior in 2020.

Hamilton signed with Miami as an undrafted college free agent on May 13, 2022. He played in 12 games at cornerback for Louisiana Tech as a graduate in 2021, where he recorded 23 tackles (13 solo) and one pass defensed. He spent the previous four seasons (2017-20) at Vanderbilt, where he appeared in 39 contests.

Hodge was awarded off waivers to Miami on Nov. 5, 2021 after playing four games with Cincinnati last season. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with the Bengals on May 14, 2021. Hodge was a three-year letterman (2018-20) and two-year starter at Marshall, where he earned first-team All-Conference USA honors as a junior in 2020.

Michel signed with Miami as a free agent on May 10, 2022. He has played in 55 NFL games with 35 starts over four seasons – three with New England (2018-20) and one with the L.A. Rams (2021). He’s totaled 743 career carries for 3,137 yards (4.2 avg.) and 47 receptions for 386 yards (8.2 avg.) and two touchdowns. In 2021, Michel rushed for 845 yards and helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI. He originally entered the NFL as a first-round pick (31st overall) out of Georgia by New England in the 2018 NFL Draft. A Plantation, Florida native, Michel played high school football at American Heritage.

Munson has had two stints with the Dolphins. His first was when he signed with Miami on Dec. 17, 2019. He remained with the team until New England signed him off the Dolphins practice squad on Oct. 27, 2021. Munson returned to Miami after he was awarded off waivers to the team on Dec. 15, 2021. He’s played in 42 career games with seven starts, totaling 71 tackles (45 solo), 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and 16 special teams stops (nine solo). Munson originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with the N.Y. Giants on May 12, 2017 following a collegiate career at San Diego State.

Pankey was awarded off waivers to Miami on Dec. 10, 2019 and has played in six games with one start for the Dolphins since then. He’s also spent time on Miami’s practice squad. Pankey originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with Green Bay on May 5, 2017 and appeared in two games for the Packers. He played collegiately at West Virginia.

Ross signed with the Dolphins on Jan. 25, 2022. He played in three games with one start for New England in 2021, totaling three tackles (two solo). He also played in New England’s AFC Wild Card game. Ross spent the entire 2020 season on New England’s practice squad and missed the 2019 season on injured reserve. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with New England on May 2, 2019 following a collegiate career at New Mexico.

Sanu signed with Miami on July 26, 2022. He spent the 2021 season with San Francisco and has played for Cincinnati (2012-15), Atlanta (2016-19), New England (2019), Detroit (2020) in addition to two stints with the 49ers (2020-21). Sanu has played in 136 career games with 96 starts, totaling 435 career receptions for 4,871 yards (11.2 avg.) and 27 touchdowns. He’s also appeared in nine playoff games and helped Atlanta win the NFC Championship in 2016. Sanu was originally a third-round pick (83rd overall) by Cincinnati in the 2012 NFL Draft after a collegiate career at Rutgers.

Scott signed with the Dolphins on Aug. 15, 2022. He has played in six NFL games, all with Cincinnati during the 2018 season. He’s recorded four tackles. Scott originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with San Francisco on April 30, 2018. He’s spent time on the practice squads of San Francisco (2018), Denver (2018), Las Vegas (2020-21), Tennessee (2021), New England (2021) and Seattle (2021). Scott played collegiately at Frostburg State.

White signed with Miami as an undrafted college free agent on May 13, 2022. He was a two-year letterman (2020-21) at South Carolina. He also spent one year (2019) at Iowa Western Community College and two seasons (2017-18) at Florida State. As a senior in 2021, White played in 12 games with six starts, totaling 88 carries for 583 yards (6.6 avg.) and two touchdowns. He also caught 19 passes for 202 yards (10.6 avg.) and three touchdowns.

Wilson signed with the Dolphins on Jan. 20, 2022. He has spent five seasons in the NFL, appearing in 32 games with 11 starts for Indianapolis (2017-19) and the N.Y. Jets (2020). He missed the 2021 season on injured reserve with the N.Y. Giants. Wilson has totaled 61 career tackles (49 solo), two interceptions, eight passes defensed and one fumble recovery. A Fort Lauderdale native, he played at the University of Florida and prepped at University School in Davie.


Miami Dolphins sign Flowers

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have signed linebacker Trey Flowers.

Flowers enters his eighth NFL season after spending four with New England (2015-18) and three with Detroit (2019-21). He’s played in 75 career games with 64 starts, totaling 261 tackles (160 solo), 31.5 sacks, seven passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Flowers has started nine playoff games and appeared in three Super Bowls with New England, winning Super Bowls LI and LIII. He originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick (101st overall) by New England in the 2015 NFL Draft.

NamePos.Hgt.Wgt.BirthdateExp.CollegeHometownAcq.
Trey FlowersLB6-22658/16/938Arkansas ’15Huntsville, Ala.FA, ‘22