The Dolphins brought home one of South Florida's own in EDGE Josh Uche. He signed a contract to continue his pro career in the city where it all started. The Columbus High School product returns to Miami after a six-year career playing with three teams.
Here's an introduction to one of the newest Dolphins defenders.
1. Under pressure
Going back to a prolific career at the University of Michigan, Uche's specialty has always been rushing the quarterback. Three years after being drafted in the second round by the New England Patriots, Uche checked in with an 11.5 sack season in 2022. He also produced a career-best 56 quarterback pressures that season and added 37 more in 2023.
Uche was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs midseason in 2024, then signed with the Eagles in 2025. Albeit on a small sample size, Uche shined once again in Philadelphia. He started the season in a part-time role, averaging 18 snaps per game over the first three contests. He then received a bump averaging 30 snaps per game over his next five outings.
Uche registered 23 pressures on 142 pass rush snaps, good for a pressure rate of 16.2 percent. That is a strong mark on a limited rep count, but his pressure rate was within striking distance of Will Anderson (19.3), Micah Parsons (18.1) and Myles Garrett (16.6). He has proven he can get after the quarterback in a rotational role as he seeks to continue building on that resume.
2. Complete pass-rush tool belt
Uche's film is a blast to watch for many reasons. Those pass rush wins come from a variety of alignments and moves, showcasing his ability to win via three avenues. He has tremendous bend, meaning he can press the up-field shoulder of a tackle and accelerate through a dip move before cornering back to the quarterback. His agility affords him the chance to threaten tackles with that up-field move, then cut back across their face and win inside. Finally, on his tape, you see bull-rushes in which he uses a runway from a wide alignment to convert his speed to power and run through the chest of the pass protector.
Uche's professional film has plays from all over the defensive line. He's scored wins from the 9-technique (the widest defensive line alignment) to all the way inside as a 4i-technique (a position off the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle). This affords him the ability to execute pass rush games like slants, twists and stunts.
The run game film is similar in terms of the pop and effort. He constantly stands blockers up and can split double Y's (two tight ends) that try to kick him out in the run game. He has largely been used in a situational rusher role throughout his career, but there is upside on his tape to do more. He's only started four games in his career yet has 21.5 sacks and 27 quarterback hits to his credit.
3. Michigan Man
The effort and determination Uche brings to the Dolphins was evident as a collegian. After missing most of his freshman and sophomore seasons for the Maize and Blue, Uche racked up 7.0 sacks and eight more tackles for loss as a junior. His play earned him a headline in the Detroit Free Press with the description "the most surprising player on the nation's top-ranked defense."
Michigan's Head Coach Jim Harbaugh at the time described Uche as, "highly determined and motivated. He's really special."
4. Hometown kid
Uche is another product of the world's greatest football factory – South Florida. He played his high school football at Columbus High School in Miami, just 28 miles from Hard Rock Stadium.
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