Sam Brown Jr. stays in Miami with NFL camp invite from Dolphins

Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Sam Brown Jr. has received an invitation to Miami Dolphins rookie camp. Brown, who transferred to Miami for his final college season, recorded 36 receptions for 509 yards and two touchdowns in 2024.

At the Combine, Brown impressed scouts, running a 4.44-second 40-yard dash and registering a 41.5-inch vertical leap, tying for the highest among wide receivers.  The performance may have not been able to get him drafted, but his performance at the Combine most likely helped him receive a camp invite.

Brown began his collegiate career at West Virginia where he played eight total games in his first two seasons. During that time, Brown recorded 10 receptions for 108 yards. He then transferred to Houston, where he was able to get more playing time in 2022.

In his redshirt sophomore season, Brown logged 41 catches for 471 yards and four touchdowns. In the following season he led the Cougars with 62 receptions for 815 yards in 2023 (Honorable mention All-Big 12). His decision to join Miami reunited him with offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, under whom he previously played for at Houston.

The receiver room for the Hurricanes was competitive, and the offense included a 1,000-yard rusher, so opportunities for Brown were limited. His production dipped but there was still flashes of an NFL-caliber receiver. Some thought that Brown would stay in Coral Gables but he opted to put his name into the NFL Draft along with the other Miami receiving leaders. Against Louisville, Brown arguably had his best game of the year with 3 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Scouting reports highlight Brown's ability to stretch the field and find openings against zone defenses. However, analysts noted he needs to improve his release techniques against press coverage and increasing his effectiveness in contested catch situations.