MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have signed four of their 2018 draft picks: safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, cornerback Cornell Armstrong, linebacker Quentin Poling and kicker Jason Sanders.
Fitzpatrick was Miami's first-round pick at No. 11 overall. He played in 42 games with 38 starts as a three-year starter (2015-17) at Alabama. As a junior in 2017, Fitzpatrick won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player and the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back. He became just the third player in NCAA history to win both awards, joining cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Patrick Peterson. Fitzpatrick was a unanimous All-American and first-team All-SEC selection.
Armstrong was Miami's only sixth-round pick at No. 209 overall. He lettered four years (2014-17) and started three at Southern Miss. Armstrong played in 47 games with 40 starts and totaled 146 career tackles (108 solo), five interceptions and 34 passes defensed. He was named honorable mention All-Conference USA as a senior in 2017 and made the Conference USA All-Freshman Team in 2014.
Poling was selected at No. 227 overall in the seventh round. He was a four-year starter (2014-17) at Ohio University, where he started 50 games and finished his career as the school's all-time leader in solo tackles (217) and tackles for loss (44). He earned first-team All-MAC honors as a senior in 2017 and as a junior in 2016, surpassing 100 tackles in each season. Poling was also a two-time team captain.
Sanders was Miami's second seventh-round pick at No. 229 overall. He was a four-year letterman (2014-17) at New Mexico, where he played in 50 games. Sanders set school records for consecutive extra points made (81) and most 50-plus yard field goals (4). As a senior in 2017, Sanders played in all 12 games and was 10-of-15 in field goals (66.7 pct.). He was a perfect 28-for-28 (100.0 pct.) on extra points and his 81.3 touchback percentage was third in the nation.
