Hurricanes RB Miller falls to Dolphins in draft

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -- Miami Hurricanes running back Lamar Miller kept falling in the NFL draft until the Miami Dolphins traded up to take him.

Despite pressing needs at receiver and safety, the Dolphins selected Miller in the fourth round. He had been projected as a likely second-round pick and perhaps even a late first-rounder.

"I was upset at first," he said after waiting more than 36 hours to hear his name announced. "But now I'm happy with where I'm at."

Fearful that another team might be about to take Miller, the Dolphins moved up six spots and grabbed him shortly after the draft resumed Saturday.

In the fifth round, they selected Oregon outside linebacker Josh Kaddu. He had 50 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks as a senior.

Miami still doesn't have an elite receiver for incumbent quarterback Matt Moore or rookie Ryan Tannehill, their first-round pick Thursday. But Miller provides a multiple threat as an understudy to Reggie Bush.

Miller rushed for 1,272 yards and nine touchdowns last year, and he's an elite kickoff returner and a capable pass catcher. After deciding to forgo his final two years of college eligibility, he'll play in the same stadium where he starred with the Hurricanes.

"To be in my hometown, to get a chance to play for a Super Bowl, that's always a great thing," he said. "I'm just ready to put the team on the map."

Miller became the second Hurricanes player taken by the Dolphins. They selected defensive end Olivier Vernon in the third round.

Miami drafted Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin in the second round and Missouri tight end Michael Egnew in the third round

Tannehill, the first quarterback taken in the first round by the Dolphins since Dan Marino in 1983, was formally introduced at a news conference Saturday. Holding his new No. 17 jersey, he posed for photos with owner Stephen Ross.

"Hope one day we can retire this number," Ross said.

"I couldn't have come to a better place," Tannehill said. "I'm honored to have been selected by such a great organization."

Tannehill's coach at Texas A&M was Mike Sherman, the Dolphins' new offensive coordinator. Tannehill immediately began studying the playbook and liked the looks of it.

"It was pretty familiar," he said. "I'm really excited to get back into it. There have been some changes, but the foundation of it is all the same. I'm excited to get into the new stuff that they've added in the past few months that we didn't have at A&M, and to get on the field and start running the plays."

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)