Jevon Holland among non-first round rookies that can make impact

Miami Dolphins rookie safety Jevon Holland was listed on NFL.com’s Gil Brandt list of eleven non-first-round rookies who can pop in 2021. Holland, a former Oregon Duck, was drafted in the second round by the Dolphins.

Holland is a versatile piece in the secondary and has impressed in training camp so far. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, through Thursday, Holland has come down with four interceptions in two weeks of camp.

The Oregon product already projects to see snaps at safety as a rookie, potentially even as a starter. In May, just weeks after Holland was drafted, the Dolphins released starting safety Bobby McCain, a sign that Holland would be in contention for starting reps. To date, he is currently listed as second string behind Jason McCourty, who was signed by the Dolphins in May.

In the Dolphins first preseason game against the Chicago Bears, Holland recorded three tackles.

Dolphins head coach Brian Flores had high praise for Holland last week, per ESPN and the Associated Press.

“He’s doing a lot of good things from a communication standpoint, from a fundamentals and technique standpoint,” Flores said. “He’s a hard-working kid. It’s showing up a little bit on the practice field.”

Jevon Holland hasn’t played football in over a year after opting out of the 2020 college football season

He told media he feels like he hasn’t missed a beat.

“I’ve been training, working out and grinding for the past year, so I wasn’t just sitting on the couch during that break,” he said, via ESPN and the Associated Press. “I didn’t really feel like I had lost a step. Putting the pads on and putting the helmet on is different, but just getting my feet underneath me and really making contact and things like that … other than that, it doesn’t feel any different. I feel better than I have before and I’m excited to be out there repping that orange and aqua.”

The Dolphins made four draft selections in the first two rounds and all four could play meaningful snaps as rookies. Leading the way are first rounders: wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and edge defender Jaelan Phillips. In the second round, the Dolphins selected Holland and offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg. All four are currently projected on the two deep with Eichenberg and Waddle listed as starters.

Jevon Holland only played at Oregon for two seasons but led the Ducks in interceptions in both seasons, with a combined nine interceptions. As a freshman in 2018, Holland recorded five interceptions and 42 tackles. In 2019, Holland recorded four interceptions and 66 tackles. He finished as a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, was named to PFF All-Pac-12 first team and AP Pac-12 All-Conference second team.