Rookie Fins Receiver May Bump His Way On Team
DAVIE (CBSMiami) – Chad Bumphis. Miami Dolphins fans probably couldn't pick him out of a lineup, but the undrafted free agent wide receiver from Mississippi State University may be close to landing a roster spot with the Fins.
"Last week, I think I mentioned to him at the end of practice, to the football team, 'Look, I haven't studied the film, but (Bumphis) is catching a lot of passes,'" head coach Joe Philbin. "And you go to the game, and (Bumphis) does some good things."
Bumphis caught five passes for 85 yards in last Sunday's Hall of Fame game against the Dallas Cowboys. Bumphis' numbers led all receivers for the Dolphins in the game and is being considered for one of the Dolphins receiver spots.
Currently the Dolphins have Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, and Brandon Gibson locked into the first three receiver spots on the team. The Fins also have tight end Dustin Keller who can line up attached to the line or outside as a receiver.
That leaves Bumphis trying to fight through a logjam that includes Jeff Fuller, Rishard Matthews, Marvin McNutt, Julius Pruitt, Kenny Stafford, and Brian Tyms. While McNutt got the start against the Cowboys, Bumphis has been making the most of his opportunities.
"He's done some good things, and he has some things he needs to correct," offensive coordinator Mike Sherman said. "He's was certainly on the back-end of an interception for a touchdown when he kind of floated into a route instead of defining it a little more, but that's part of being a rookie. We definitely can fix that. He has definitely shown something out here in the game the other day, but he still has a ways to go. He's a great guy to work with."
As a receiver at Mississippi State, Bumphis played in an offense that at times was more reliant on the running game. Still, Bumphis improved his stats from his freshman to sophomore years and after a down year as a junior, he came back and caught 58 passes for 922 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior.
Bumphis played the slot receiver at Mississippi State and could be the ultimate replacement to another undrafted receiver who left the Fins this year, Davone Bess.
