BY SEAN DONOVAN
The Miami Dolphins signed one cornerback to a lengthy extension and added another in free agency, but that didn't stop the team from adding to the position with their first pick of the fourth round.
The Dolphins opened their action on the third day of the draft by taking Walt Aikens, cornerback from FCS school Liberty University, with the No. 125 overall pick.
Aikens was a first team All-Big South selection in 2013 after being a second team selection in both 2012 and 2011. The 6-foot-1, 200 pound corner tallied three interceptions in six games as a senior last season.
The North Carolina native was a highly recruited high school prospect and began his college career at FBS school Illinois, but was dismissed by the team after he was arrested for misdemeanor theft in 2010.
Naturally, Miami's newest defensive back was asked about the circumstances of his departure from Illinois in his first media conference call, and he offered his side of the story, via the team's website:
"I bought a laptop from a teammate and it turned out to be stolen. I was charged with possession of stolen property, which was a misdemeanor, and the school was really trying to set an example out of some football players at the time and they thought it was best that I left," Aikens said.
"Ron Zook was my head coach at the time, and he fought for me to stay but the school wouldn’t let me stay," he continued. "He gave me the right of way to transfer to some other schools.”
Aikens landed at Liberty, which gave him the best opportunity to get playing time immediately as a transfer, and the rest is history.
While the blemish on his record will always be there, Aikens is confident that he's a good football fit with his new team.
"I took a visit a couple of weeks ago and I just fell in love with the coaches," he said. "They have a lot in common with my goals and I have a lot in common with their plans. They like big physical corners so I’m there for that.”
