BOCA RATON – FAU RB Buddy Howell and kicker Greg Joseph have signed free agent contracts with the Miami Dolphins.
“It’s a good feeling to be able to stay home and showcase my talents once again,” Howell said.
Howell averaged a team-high 6.6 yards per carry en route to 740 yards and five touchdowns last season as Devin Singeltary’s backup. During his career the Coral Gables product rushed for 2,419 yards and 22 scores.
At 6-foot-2 and 219 pounds, Howell is a big back capable of taking an NFL pounding. He’s also faster than he looks, as his 4.51 time in the 40 attests.
No FAU players heard their names called during this weekend’s draft. Once the draft concludes, all undrafted players become free agents and can sign with any interested team.
Miami representatives reached out to Howell before the draft concluded to tell him they were interested in bringing him to camp as a free agent.
The Seattle Seahawks showed similar interest.
“It was a pretty easy decision to stay home,” Howell said.
The vast majority of Joseph’s kickoffs went for touchbacks last season. FAU’s all-time leading scorer, Joseph only made 15 of his 21 field goal attempts in 2017
Seattle invited FAU wide receiver John Franklin and guard Jakobi Smith to its upcoming rookie camp. Wide receiver Kalib Woods has a tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs, his agent tweeted. Fellow wide receiver Karmin Solomon has a tryout with Jacksonville.
Franklin said his agent is still talking with multiple NFL teams in hopes of landing a free agent contract.
A former quarterback, Franklin transferred to FAU from Auburn during fall camp. Franklin ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at FAU’s pro day (some clocked him in the high 4.3s). During his lone season at FAU, the former quarterback caught seven passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball 16 times for 242 yards and two scores.
Smith won a fall camp battle with William Tuihalamaka for FAU’s right guard spot, then started every game last season. At 6-foot-3 and 311 pounds, Smith has good college size. Smith benched 225 times 31 times during FAU’s pro day.
Woods missed the first half of FAU’s 2017 season after being charged with two counts of felony battery for his role in an off-campus fight. Once FAU lifted the suspension, Woods caught 24 passes for 619 yards and four touchdowns..
At 6-foot-3 and 189 pounds, Woods had long flashed big play ability during practice. This season he made plays in games, too.
Woods ran a disappointing 4.55 in the 40 during FAU’s pro day.
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