NFL Draft 2011: Miami Dolphins Hold Private Workout with Arizona DE Ricky Elmore

The Miami Dolphins sent linebackers coach Bill Sheridan to privately work out former Arizona defensive end Ricky Elmore Monday, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

The news comes just a day after it was reported that the Dolphins were expected to work out Elmore's much more heralded pass-rushing teammate in potential first-rounder Brooks Reed.

While Reed finished his collegiate career with 17 sacks, including seven as a senior in 2010, Elmore notched double digits each of the past two seasons and finished his career with 25 sacks. Elmore earned second-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2010.

However, Reed is regarded as a much better pro prospect due to his blend of speed, size and athleticism.

Elmore, meanwhile, posted a sub-par 4.96 40-yard dash at February's NFL Scouting Combine (reportedly due to illness) and improved that time a bit at Arizona's pro day with times of 4.86 and 4.83 seconds.

While some have said that Elmore lacks the speed and athleticism to play outside linebacker in the 3-4, the Dolphins are at least doing their homework to see if he may be worth taking in the middle rounds of the draft and grooming as a run-stuffer and situational pass rusher.

Elmore's strength and high motor are things the Dolphins certainly covet, and the depth behind starters Cameron Wake and Koa Misi is practically nonexistent.

(View Elmore's official draft website here.)


Here are the prospects known to have drawn pre-draft interest from  the Dolphins:

• OL Byron Bell, New Mexico (interest)
• OLB Ricky Elmore, Arizona (private workout/interview/film study 3/14)
• WR Terrence McCrae, Ohio (private workout at pro day, March 10)
• QB Cam Newton, Auburn (private workout)
• OLB Brooks Reed (visit and/or private workout, TBD)
• TE D. J. Williams, Arkansas (private workout, March)

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Chris J. Nelson graduated with a degree in journalism from Georgia State University and currently works for Turner Sports in Atlanta. He operates his own Miami Dolphins website, The Miami Dolphins Spotlight, and he can be followed on Twitter here.