The Front Office w/ Jason Sarney- UDFA Matt Cole- #82 will make the 53* as a Special Teams Gunner

By: Jason Sarney

The Miami Dolphins once again signed a loaded class of rookie undrafted free agents following April's selection process. One player who is a very savvy bet to make the 53*-man roster following training camp is McKendree University WR/STer, Matt Cole.

Cole excels in punt and kick-return coverage as well as with the football, being a player who can gain special teams yards, as well as prevent them. Cole has dynamic receiver abilities as well however, his speed plus tackling combination and the volume of snaps and repetitions he has had in college at the Gunner role, tells me this is exactly why the Miami Dolphins signed him.

With the Dolphins not retaining Walt Aikens at the moment, who held the Gunner role as well as other areas of the Special Teams unit, training camp will be open tryouts for each specific job, and Cole can literally cover several of them.

Much like a specific Special Team Ace namely New England's Matthew Slater, Cole can slide directly into Aikens' role and lock down a professional job very quickly.

Cole has had more reps at the Gunner role in college than most who earn that job since many times college safeties, running backs, cornerbacks and receivers fight in camps to hold the role simply just to make a team, whereas Cole is already a specialist in it.

I am going "all-in" on predicting Cole will make this 53*-man roster, and be a top NFL Gunner for years to come...and he may even score some touchdowns from both sides of the return game...kicks and punts.

Remember this name - Matt Cole, and once again, remember the phrase - "82 will make the 53*."

You can follow Jason on Twitter @OrangeAquaman

*Though the roster limit will continue to be 53 for 2020, two players from the practice squad may be brought up to increase roster sizes to 55 on game-day, with those two players reverting back to the practice squad after game-day. Practice squads will also be increased in size from 10 players to 12 beginning this season