Athlete Bio

 Rupert Bryan

Ht 6'2

Wt 248

Position: Fullback

College Weight: 280

College Position: Offensive Tackle

College Florida International University (FIU)

Draft Class 2013

The Miami Dolphins have taken a flier on an obscure offensive lineman from FIU, with the hopes of increasing competition at fullback.

The Miami Herald reported Thursday that the Dolphins signed Rupert Bryant, an undrafted free agent. Though he started 43 games as an offensive lineman at FIU, the team projects him as a fullback.

Bryan was listed at 280 pounds at FIU, undersized for an NFL lineman while also being to heavy to be a fullback. But Miami's current fullback, Javorskie Lane, weighed over 300 pounds in college before slimming down to 258 pounds before last season.

The Herald also reported that Bryan has lost thirty pounds since the end of FIU's season.

Before signing Bryan, the Dolphins had no one on the roster who could compete for the fullback job against Lane. He played in all 16 games for Miami last season, making 5 starts and accumulating 13 yards on 13 carries with 2 touchdowns (plus a touchdown reception).

Bryan is originally from Belle Glade, Florida, and played for Glades Central High School in Belle Glade. He was an All-Sun Belt honorable mention in his junior and senior seasons. No offensive lineman has made more starts in the history of the FIU program.

The Dolphins got a good look at Bryan at FIU's Pro Day for outgoing seniors before last month's NFL Draft. General manager Jeff Ireland and six team scouts attended Pro Day, according to the Herald.

Though he played offensive line, Bryan did score one touchdown at FIU when he lined up at fullback during FIU's game against FAU last season.

2012 (Senior) Started All 13 Games 

2011 ( Junior) Started All 13 games

2010 (Sophomore): One of six returning Panthers, and the only one on the offensive line, to start every contest in 2010… Helped pave the way for the 27th-ranked rushing offense in the country, a single-season program record of 2,438 yards on the ground going into the bowl game … Helped the o-line allow just 1.54 sacks-per-game, good enough for 38th in the country … The o-line as a whole received an ESPN.com helmet sticker against Troy (11/13) when they opened holes for the running game to the tune of a program-record 448 rushing yards.

2009 (Freshman): Appeared in nine games, making starts against Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee and North Texas.

High School: Anchored an offensive unit that ended the regular season ranked second overall in Palm Beach County Class 3A-2A-2B-1A-1B, averaging 371.7 yards per game...after a great season with Glades Central he was named first-team All-Palm Beach County and first-team 12-3A All-District...listed as a three star recruit on rivals.com

Personal: Son of Rupert and Beatrice Bryan... has two siblings, Ashley and Chris... majoring in computer science