DAVIE, Fla. -- Being drafted by an NFL team has a special meaning for every prospect. But that was especially the case last week when the Miami Dolphins selected rookie quarterback Brandon Doughty.
The seventh-round pick grew up about 15 minutes from the team’s training facility in Davie, Fla. and often envisioned himself as Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. Years later, following a prolific college career, Doughty is putting on a Dolphins jersey as the team’s first drafted quarterback since 2012.
“It’s crazy,” Doughty said. “It’s very surreal. ... It has really been a huge and amazing blessing and now I’m a Miami Dolphin. It’s my home-town team for the rest of my life, and it’s something I’ll tell my kids about someday hopefully.”
Doughty is living out his dream this offseason with the Dolphins. He even got to know Marino’s son because they went to the same high school together.
The work is just beginning for Doughty to make sure this dream isn’t short lived. There are no guarantees Doughty will make the team this fall as a seventh-round pick. He has to prove himself worthy of a roster spot among a veteran quarterback group that includes starter Ryan Tannehill, backup Matt Moore and third-stringer Logan Thomas. Doughty and Thomas likely are competing for one roster spot.
Doughty is making a good first impression on Miami's coaching staff.
“He has a presence about him. He has a swagger about him,” Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said. “He’s very confident. ... The numbers he put up in college and being part of a winner, I love that fact about him. I feel like we have a guy that’s going to come in here, he’s going to work to get better and he’s going compete with those guys. And that’s all we want.”
As Gase mentioned, Doughty’s numbers at Western Kentucky were impressive. He threw for 5,055 yards and 48 touchdowns last season. In 2014, Doughty threw for 4,830 yards and 49 touchdowns. Doughty led the NCAA in those categories
The rookie describes himself as a “gunslinger” and will bring that element to the Dolphins this offseason while fighting for a chance to make his childhood team.
“I respect that Ryan is here, Matt Moore is here, all those guys are working their butts off for this program and for this organization,” Doughty said. “I’m just going to put my head down. I’m going to grind it out and enjoy the grind. That will be kind of a cool thing.”