MIAMI GARDENS ― It was only three years ago that JuJu Brents was the 44th overall pick of an NFL Draft. Brents started eight games as a rookie cornerback for the Colts.
But for various reasons, including injuries, Brents has started only three games in the past two seasons.
Now Brents is positioned to start for the defensive-back-needy Miami Dolphins.
How is Brents different now than he was back in 2023? He’s mentally stronger.
“Just staying down, that’s my mentality,” Brents said. “What I mean by that is don’t get too high, don’t get too low. When you may have a good play, flush it, next play mentality, and just staying down. Just staying, I mean, don’t get incompletion, just stand down and do all everything.”
Brents did not pan out for his hometown Indianapolis Colts.
But he has the physical goods. Brents, 26, is 6-foot-3, 198 pounds. Brents has incredibly long arms, leaping ability and good ball skills.
He has been very impressive in practices open to the media this spring. Brents has an interception, several near-interceptions and multiple pass breakups.
“He’s got great length,” Miami coach Jeff Hafley said. “He’s got good feet for his size. He’s athletic. He can play the ball. When you go back and you watch his tape when he was healthy, he was doing a really nice job. I’m very excited about where he’s at. He’s extremely competitive.”
Brents played seven games for the Dolphins last season and had a strong passer rating allowed of only 70.4. There was a lot of optimism about his play before a season-ending foot surgery.
There is no reason Miami can’t be reasonably competitive with some combination of Brents, Chris Johnson and/or Jason Marshall at cornerback this season. They’re all young. And they’re all intriguing prospects.
“Keep coming every single day,” Brents said. “You’ve got to earn it, and they’re not going to be giving it to you. If you want something, you got to go take it. So keep coming every single day, having the right mentality, right attitude, keep competing. And I think the main thing for me is just being available.”
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins’ JuJu Brents looks like real deal if he can stay healthy
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
