Miami Hurricanes CB Tyrique Stevenson opens up on how much it would mean to get drafted by Dolphins

Miami Hurricanes quarterback and NFL draft prospect Tyrique Stevenson said it would mean a lot if he could stay in Miami and get drafted by the Miami Dolphins.

“It would mean a lot to me,” Stevenson said. “I’m down to go wherever.”

Obviously, Stevenson doesn’t want to rule out any teams from drafting him, but he reiterated how much it would mean to stay in South Florida.

“It would definitely mean a lot to me to be back in South Florida,” Stevenson said. “Give my family the opportunity to come to – be closer to be able to get to games a lot easier.”

The Hurricanes cornerback talked about how much it would mean to him to have his grandparents come to games as well.

The Dolphins could use some help at the cornerback position, as they didn’t have Byron Jones in the 2022 season due to injury. The team has also seen former first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene struggle to maintain a role in the lineup at the NFL level.

Stevenson didn’t specifically say if he’s had conversations with the Dolphins, instead saying he’s had conversations with “everybody.”

The young cornerback started his collegiate career at the University of Georgia, appearing in 19 games over his first two seasons at the collegiate level.

Stevenson spent the final two seasons of his college career with the Hurricanes, and he became an impact player in the team’s secondary. The prospect picked up 25 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions for the Hurricanes last season.

Over the course of his four collegiate seasons, Stevenson amassed 115 tackles, three interceptions and 21 passes defended.

Stevenson has been projected to go in the first round in some mock drafts, which could be problematic for Miami. The Dolphins don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft after trading for Bradley Chubb at the trade deadline in the 2022 season.

Miami’s own first-round pick was forfeited as part of the team’s punishment for a tampering case.

Miami could always attempt to move up into the first round to draft the Hurricanes corner, or it could hope that he falls a bit on draft night to get him later in the draft.

The 2023 NFL Draft is set to begin on Thursday, April 27 and runs through Saturday, April 29.