Mike Hull hopes to become special player for Miami

[Daytona Fin]

What a long, strange trip it’s been for Canon-McMillan High School graduate Mike Hull.
A year ago at this time, Hull was prepping for the NFL Scouting Combine for what would be the most important job interview of his life.
Along the way, he was poked, prodded and asked to do a bunch of drills, many of which don’t really matter when it comes to the most important question for a young potential NFL hopeful – can he play football?
As it turned out, the Miami Dolphins felt Hull could play the game, and though they didn’t draft him – Miami didn’t have a selection after the fifth round – they made him a priority signing as a rookie free agent.

“This past year was a grind, it was definitely very stressful, especially coming off a knee injury,” said Hull, who had his knee scoped immediately after playing in his final game at Penn State.“It was not easy at times, but I was able to learn from the older guys and get in for a few games.”
That should be something that helps Hull in the long term as he goes into his second season with Miami, which replaced interim head coach Dan Campbell at the conclusion of a 6-10 season with Chicago offensive coordinator Adam Gates as its new head coach. Campbell was elevated to replace head coach Joe Philbin, a Washington & Jefferson College graduate, just four games into Hull’s rookie season.
Once again, Hull will be tasked with making a name for himself with a new coaching staff. Then again, that’s something Hull knows he’ll have to do every season.
“I have to come out and compete every day for a roster spot,” said Hull, who appeared in three games, making one tackle, for the Dolphins last season after being signed off the practice squad in November.
“Nothing is ever going to come easy for me. I know I’m still trying to carve out my role as a player.”

But he’s seen teammates such as Spencer Paysinger and Michael Thomas carve out a niche as special teams players. It’s a role he sees himself filling as well.“Those guys have made careers out of special teams,” Hull said. “It’s still football, and you still get to make plays. I just want to find a role. I’ll play as long as they let me.
“I need to make it first on special teams. That will be my ticket.”
Hull is back in the Pittsburgh area now until early April when he heads to Miami for offseason workouts. But he’s not taking any time off from working on his craft.
He knows there’s not a lot he can do about the things that led to him going undrafted last year – his size. At 6-0 and 237 pounds, he doesn’t have prototypical NFL linebacker size, but there are things he can do to accentuate his skill set.
“I’m trying to work on my speed this offseason,” Hull said. “That’s something I can really improve on.”
He’s willing to do anything to avoid the disappointments he felt last year, first going undrafted, then being released – though he knew the Dolphins wanted him back on their practice squad.
Hull might have a leg up this time around. Miami has four linebackers scheduled to become free agents in early March, including Paysinger. As is typically the case in the NFL, where 53-man rosters turn over about 40 percent of players from year to year, Miami’s roster will look much different in 2016.
And Hull plans to be a part of it.
“There’s a lot of things that can happen,” Hull said. “There’s free agency, the draft. Who knows how any of those things will play out? All I can control is myself and preparing myself.”

http://www.observer-reporter.com/ap...e=20160221&category=SPORTS04&lopenr=160229910

 

[Al13]

his hips are to stiff, i doubt he ever becomes a player besides maybe ST.

 

[fisi]

I think he's decent, on special team.

 

[steviey013]

He's a goner