Former Navy QB Perry finds spot with Miami

Dolphins list him as RB as 53-man roster gets finalized

NFL

Naval Academy graduate Malcolm Perry has made the 53-man roster of the Miami Dolphins.

Perry survived the final round of cuts as the Dolphins had to reduce the roster to 53 by 4 p.m. on Saturday. The seventh-round draft pick is listed as a running back on the official Miami roster, although he spent all of training camp practicing as a wide receiver.

Miami cut four receivers Saturday, with Gary Jennings, Andy Jones, Kirk Merritt and Matt Cole all being asked to turn in their playbooks. That left Perry as one of six receivers remaining on the roster.

DeVante Parker and Preston Williams are listed as the starters, with Jakeem Grant, Isaiah Ford and Mack Hollins joining Perry as backups. Jason Bernstein, Perry’s agent, confirmed via text message that his client had made Miami’s initial 53-man roster.

Perry becomes the second Naval Academy graduate active in the National Football

League. Joe Cardona (Class of 2015) is entering his fifth season as the starting long snapper for the New England Patriots.

Perry will seek to become the fourth player from the current triple-option era (2002 to present) to play in an NFL regular-season game, joining Cardona, fullback Kyle Eckel (Class of 2005) and wide receiver Keenan Reynolds (Class of 2016).

Fullback Eric Kettani spent seven seasons on NFL practice squads but was never activated.

Perry would be the first service academy athlete to benefit from a new Department of Defense policy that allows them to pursue professional sports immediately after graduation.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper issued the new guidelines in November, signing an order that allows service academy graduates to apply for a waiver delaying their military commitment to play pro sports.

Pursuant to the specific guidelines of that order, Perry graduated from the Naval Academy but was not commissioned. The Tennessee native attended his swearing-in ceremony at the academy May 20 but did not take the oath of office or sign the required paperwork to become a Marine Corps officer.

Perry excelled as both a slotback and quarterback in Navy’s triple-option offense while amassing 4,359 rushing yards, second all-time behind Reynolds.

The 5-foot-9, 190-pound speedster finished with 40 rushing touchdowns, which ranks fourth in program history.

AMY BETH BENNETT/SUN SENTINEL Former Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry made the Miami Dolphins’ 53-man roster. He is listed as a running back, although he mostly was a receiver during training camp.