2011 NFL Draft: Miami Dolphins to Work Out Controversial QB Josh Portis

The Miami Dolphins have scheduled a private workout with California (Pa.) quarterback Josh Portis for Tuesday, March 22, according to his agent's twitter account.

The Palm Beach Post's Ben Volin updates the story with the news that Portis, who is cousins with former Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis, will work out at both quarterback and receiver with the Dolphins.

Portis certainly had a rocky collegiate career, arriving at Florida in 2005 and appearing in six games before transferring to Maryland and sitting out the 2006 season.

After he was caught cheating on an exam and suspended for the 2007 season, Portis served as a backup and option quarterback for the Terrapins in 2008, totaling 186 rushing yards and a touchdown on 31 carries.

Portis again transferred in 2009, this time to California University of Pennsylvania of Division II. In 2009, he threw for 3,421 yards and 36 touchdowns with just nine interceptions, earning second-team All-PSAC honors.

After another off-the-field incident that saw Portis arrested for using a stolen credit card in 2010, Portis remained the Vulcans' starting quarterback. He threw for 2,651 yards and 33 touchdowns against seven interceptions during his senior season.

Portis (6-3, 211) has predominantly been a pass-first quarterback despite his 4.5 speed. He compares strongly to Vikings' quarterback Joe Webb (6-4, 220), who was drafted as a receiver in the sixth round in 2010 despite playing quarterback at UAB.

Character concerns will certainly follow Portis in the pre-draft process, and the No. 5 high school quarterback in 2005 will just be fortunate to be drafted. CBSSports.com ranks him 19th at his position and grades him as a potential seventh-round pick or undrafted free agent.

While Portis' upside as a quarterback is certainly limited and his NFL future may certainly be at another position if he can shed what appears to be a strong presence of immaturity, he's an intriguing physical specimen that's worth looking at after draft for the Dolphins.

Known prospects to have drawn pre-draft interest from 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, TBD)
• QB Josh Portis, California (Pa.) (private workout at QB/WR, 3/22)
• OLB Brooks Reed, Arizona (visit and/or private workout, TBD)
• TE Julius Thomas, Portland State (attended Pro Day, 3/14)
• 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.