Dolphins sign CB Jason Maitre after rookie minicamp tryout

Jason Maitre joins Ireland Brown as another rookie who made the most of a tryout at the Dolphins’ rookie minicamp.

The Miami Dolphins are signing cornerback Jason Maitre to their roster after the Wisconsin alum impressed at the team’s rookie minicamp, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Among the more than two dozen players who participated in the minicamp on a three-day tryout contract, Maitre joins offensive lineman Ireland Brown as the only two players (so far) who have reportedly turned their auditions into spots on the roster.

Just like Brown, Maitre began his collegiate career at Boston College and transferred elsewhere. The defensive back left as a grade transfer after the 2022 season and landed at Wisconsin where he played slot cornerback in the Badgers defense. Prior to his departure, Maitre mostly played safety in his last two seasons at Boston College.

According to PFF, the 5’10, 181-pound cornerback didn’t allow any touchdowns in coverage during his time at Wisconsin. He finished the 2023 season with one interception, one tackle for loss, and three pass breakups.

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Miami Dolphins signed former Rutgers offensive lineman Ireland Brown

After a successful rookie minicamp tryout, the Miami Dolphins signed former Rutgers offensive lineman Ireland Brown to their 90-man roster.

After a successful rookie minicamp, the Miami Dolphins signed former Rutgers football offensive lineman Ireland Brown to their 90-man roster. More than two dozen players tried out for the Dolphins’ rookie minicamp, with Brown being the only one turning his tryout into an opportunity.

Brown played in eight games for the Scarlet Knights last season, taking part in an offensive line that led the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed per game (1.08) and ranked fifth in the league in rushing (168.7).

The former Scarlet Knight was selected to the Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list heading into the 2023 season. According to PFF, Brown earned a 90.5 grade while playing 62 snaps as a senior.

In 2022, Brown started 11 games at center, helping the Rutgers’ offense total 460 yards at Michigan State. In the same season, Brown earned the Mark Mills Second Effort Award as the most improved offensive player during spring practice.

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Brown began his collegiate career as a defensive tackle at Boston College before transferring to Rutgers.

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While playing at Boston College, Brown appeared in nine games at the defensive tackle position. He recorded six total tackles (four solo, two assisted) on the season. When he transferred to Rutgers in 2020, Brown played five games on the defensive line, recording three tackles and one sack.

He played on the defensive side of the ball with the Scarlet Knights for one season before moving to the offensive line in 2021. As a sophomore in 2021, Brown played in nine games with six starts at left guard for the Scarlet Knights.

 

 

 

 

Dolphins sign OL Ireland Brown after rookie minicamp tryout

Ireland Brown impressed coaches enough at rookie minicamp to earn a contract with the Dolphins.

More than two dozen players attended the Miami Dolphins’ rookie minicamp on a tryout basis — including veteran pass rusher Aaron Lynch — but almost all were turned away. That wasn’t the case for offensive lineman Ireland Brown, though.

According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston, the Dolphins signed Brown on Monday.

Brown began his collegiate career as a defensive tackle at Boston College before transferring to Rutgers. He played on the defensive side of the ball with the Scarlet Knights for one season before making the move to the offensive line in 2021.

He took over as the starting center for Rutgers in 2022, but was a backup in his final season after Gus Zilinskas won the job in 2023. While he was only on the field for 62 snaps as a senior, Brown earned a 90.5 grade from PFF.

Early in his collegiate career, Brown was named Ireland Burke. He changed his name to Brown out of respect and love for a family that took him in when he was 15.

In Miami, Brown will face an uphill climb for a roster spot even though the team’s depth on the interior offensive line is lacking.

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Rutgers offensive lineman Ireland Brown has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft

On Sunday, Rutgers offensive lineman Ireland Brown announced on his social media account that he was declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Over the weekend, Rutgers offensive lineman Ireland Brown announced on his social media account that he’s declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Brown, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound lineman, began his career as a defensive tackle at Boston College before transferring to Rutgers in his sophomore season.

When joining Rutgers football, Brown moved from defense to offense, getting rotated to left guard in 2021 before settling into the center position a year later. During his junior season, Brown started 11 games and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten list, earning the Mark Mills Second Effort Award as the team’s most improved offensive player during spring practice in 2022.

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The Jamaica, New York native helped an offense unit total 460 yards against a Big Ten opponent in Michigan State. Also, Brown was part of a unit that allowed no sacks in a winning effort against Indiana in 2022.

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Heading into the 2023 season, Brown was selected to the Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list, being identified as a possible future 2024 NFL Draft pick.

The senior center took part in a unit that totaled 436 yards of offense in a victory over Wagner and received his third Academic All-Big Ten honor for his efforts in the classroom.

 

 

Rutgers football: Ireland Burke progressing nicely at center

Ireland Brown is showing well at the center position for Rutgers football.

Ireland Brown is on his third position since joining Rutgers football two years ago, his athleticism and versatility helping him find multiple roles with the program. The center position is now his latest venture.

A transfer from Boston College, Brown came to Rutgers originally as a defensive tackle. Then he transitioned last fall to the offensive line where he played as a guard.

Now this spring, he is at center, which is where he played on Friday night at the annual spring game. Brown, now at 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, played in nine games a season ago at left guard, with six starts.

Rutgers head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag] sees an uptick in his performance and comfort at his new position.

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“Ireland started the year, the spring at guard. After four practices, we made the move to center. We just thought that he had that kind of fast-twitch, and he does,” Schiano said after the game.

“I mean, I think he can be as good as he wants to be. He really improved quite a bit. He did a good job the first four practices but from practice five on, he really picked it up.”

The fact that Brown can play three positions at the collegiate level is impressive. It is that versatility and athleticism that Schiano says makes him a natural at the center position.

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Coming out of Pope John (Sparta, N.J.), Brown was a three-star recruit, was ranked the No. 40 player in the state in the class of 2019 according to Rivals.

In addition to Boston College and Rutgers, he also held Power Five offers from Maryland, Minnesota and Purdue.

“You know, centers, people kind of take it for granted, especially in a shotgun offense. They just take that snap for granted. Well, that’s not the easiest thing in the world,” Schiano said.

“If that’s all you had to do, it’s easy. But you have to snap it, and then you have to block somebody, and that other guy doesn’t have to snap it. He just has to get off on ball. It’s really a lot harder than people think. So you’ve really got to be a pretty good athlete to do it, and with he and Gus, I think we have some good depth at the position now.”

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