Miami Dolphins Sign Defensive Lineman Cam Rice Ahead of Roster Cuts
The Miami Dolphins continue to make changes to their roster as they move through the second half of the preseason.
On Monday, the Dolphins announced they have signed defensive lineman Cam Rice and waived safety Tanner Wall.
Rice gives Miami another young defensive lineman to evaluate as the team prepares for its final preseason game and begins making decisions regarding the initial 53-man roster.
The 6-foot-2, 303-pound Rice finished his college career at Maryland after previously spending time at Ohio, West Liberty and West Virginia. He started all 12 games for Maryland during the 2025 season and recorded 33 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His performance earned him Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition.
Rice’s journey to the NFL has been an interesting one, as he worked his way up from Division II to become a productive Big Ten defensive lineman.
Before arriving at Maryland, Rice played at Ohio in 2024, where he finished with 30 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Prior to that, he was a standout at West Liberty, accumulating 89 tackles, 37 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He was named a Division II All-American in 2023 and was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, given to the top defensive player in small-college football.
Rice began his college career as a linebacker at West Virginia before transitioning to an interior defensive lineman.
Another Opportunity on Miami’s Defensive Line
At this stage of the preseason, Rice will have a limited amount of time to make an impression on Miami’s coaching staff.
The Dolphins have been active in adjusting the bottom of their roster throughout training camp, and the addition of Rice gives the team another option along the defensive front. Miami recently signed defensive lineman Fatorma Mulbah after placing Rene Konga on injured reserve, while the club also previously added veteran edge defender Clelin Ferrell.
Rice’s college production makes him an intriguing late-training-camp addition. At more than 300 pounds, he provides Miami with another big body on the interior, but his history of producing tackles for loss also shows that he has been capable of creating penetration.
His numbers at West Liberty were particularly impressive, and Rice successfully carried some of that production with him as he moved up the college football ladder. He went from Division II West Liberty to Ohio and eventually proved he could compete in the Big Ten at Maryland.
Now he will attempt to make another jump.
Rice Faces an Uphill Battle
With roster cuts approaching, Rice will have to learn Miami’s defensive system quickly and make the most of whatever practice and preseason opportunities he receives.
Making the 53-man roster this late in training camp won’t be easy. However, the Dolphins could also use the next couple of weeks to evaluate Rice as a potential developmental player who could compete for a spot on the practice squad if he doesn’t make the initial roster.
For Rice, the opportunity is what matters.
He has already worked his way from Division II football to the Big Ten, and now he will get his chance to show the Dolphins he belongs at the NFL level.
Miami’s decision to sign Rice is unlikely to generate major headlines, but these are the types of late-summer roster moves that can occasionally uncover a developmental player. With final roster decisions getting closer, Rice will have a short window to make his case.
