From Linebacker to Fullback: The Dolphins’ DJ Herman Experiment Is Worth Watching
Every training camp has a player who seemingly comes out of nowhere and makes you start paying attention. For the Miami Dolphins, DJ Herman is becoming one of those players.
Herman wasn’t drafted and wasn’t part of Miami’s initial group of undrafted free-agent signings. The former San Diego State linebacker came to Dolphins rookie minicamp on a tryout and did enough to earn a contract. Now he’s attempting to make an NFL roster at a completely different position. Miami has converted Herman to fullback, and what started as an intriguing offseason move has become something worth following.
Herman has gotten opportunities at fullback with Miami’s first-team offense during training camp. He’s also contributing on special teams, including as a lead blocker on the kick-return unit. Both could be important as he tries to establish himself in the NFL.
At San Diego State, Herman appeared in 49 career games with two starts at linebacker. He finished with 56 tackles, including 26 solo, one tackle for loss, and two passes defensed. Herman was also teammates with Dolphins first-round pick Chris Johnson during their time with the Aztecs. But the numbers don’t really tell Herman’s story. He made much of his impact on special teams and was voted one of San Diego State’s six team captains for the 2025 season.
His former coach, Sean Lewis, once described Herman as a “Swiss Army knife,” and that’s probably the best way to understand what he brought to the Aztecs. Herman contributed throughout special teams, served as the quarterback of the punt unit, and even lined up at fullback in one of San Diego State’s offensive packages. He found different ways to help his football team.
Now Miami is finding out whether those traits can translate into an NFL fullback. At 6-foot-1 and 242 pounds, Herman spent years playing downhill, working through traffic and taking on blockers. The job is reversed now. Instead of trying to defeat the blocker and close the running lane, he’s trying to become the blocker and help open it.
That’s where this conversion gets particularly interesting. Short-yardage, goal-line, and red-zone situations are places where a physical fullback can make an impact without ever touching the football. Herman’s ability to get downhill, lead through the hole, and create running lanes will be an important part of Miami’s evaluation.
He’s shown a little more than just blocking, too. One play that stood out during camp came when Herman ran a wheel route out of the backfield and hauled in a pass from Malik Willis. It’s only one play, but seeing a converted linebacker show capable hands adds another element to the experiment.
Special teams could be just as important. That’s where Herman already has a track record, and Miami has given him work there during camp. Herman doesn’t have to become a major part of the offense to provide value. If he can contribute at fullback and on special teams, that combination becomes much more interesting when final roster decisions arrive.
Now comes an opportunity to show it. On Miami’s first official depth chart, Herman is listed behind tight end/fullback Ben Sims, who is currently injured. That creates an opportunity for No. 34 beginning with tonight’s preseason game to show what he can bring at fullback and on special teams.
Don’t judge Herman by the box score. Watch him in short yardage and see what happens when he’s asked to lead through the hole. Keep an eye on him when the special-teams units take the field, too. Those snaps could tell us far more about Herman than his final stat line.
There are bigger names and bigger position battles surrounding this Dolphins team, and getting opportunities with the first-team offense in August guarantees Herman nothing. He still has plenty to prove.
But Miami took a San Diego State linebacker, moved him to fullback, and is giving him an opportunity to show that the physicality and versatility that defined his college career can translate to the NFL.
Whether it works remains to be seen.
Starting tonight, No. 34 gets another chance to show us.
