South Florida Local News

Today is Friday, April 25, the 115th day of 2025. There are 250 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On April 25, 1945, during World War II, delegates from 50 countries opened a conference in San Francisco to create the Charter of the United Nations.

Also on this date:

In 1507, a world map produced by German cartographer Martin Waldseemueller contained the first recorded use of the term “America,” in honor of Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci (veh-SPOO’-chee).

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In 1859, ground was broken in Egypt for construction of the Suez Canal.

In 1898, the United States Congress declared war against Spain. The 16-week Spanish-American War resulted in an American victory, after which the United States took possession of the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam.

In 1915, during World War I, Allied soldiers invaded the Gallipoli (guh-LIH’-puh-lee) Peninsula in an unsuccessful attempt to take the Ottoman Empire out of the war.

In 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway opened to commercial traffic, connecting all five Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was deployed in orbit from the space shuttle Discovery. (It was later discovered that the telescope’s primary mirror was flawed, requiring the installation of corrective components to achieve optimal focus.)

In 2014, city officials in Flint, Michigan, changed the source of its water supply to the Flint River in a cost-cutting move. The river water exposed Flint residents to dangerous levels of lead and bacteria, leading to a public health crisis that took five years to resolve.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Al Pacino is 85.
• Musician-producer Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA) is 80.
• Actor Talia Shire is 79.
• NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is 63.
• Actor Hank Azaria is 61.
• Sportscaster Joe Buck is 56.
• Actor Gina Torres is 56.
• Actor Renée Zellweger is 56.
• Actor Jason Lee is 55.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Tim Duncan is 49.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Brian White and Sebastain Berhalter scored and the Vancouver Whitecaps beat Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 2-0 on Thursday night in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal.

The second leg is Wednesday night at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The series winner will advance to the final against either Cruz Azul or Tigres UNAL on June 1.

Many in the record crowd of 53,837 at BC Place Stadium came to watch Messi. They weren’t disappointed when the Argentine superstar started the game and played the entire match. Joining him in the star-studded kickoff was Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets, forward Luis Suarez of Uruguay and defender Jordi Alba from Spain.

Despite Miami’s star power, it was White who produced one of the loudest roars from the crowd when he headed a pass from Pedro Vite past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari in the 25th minute. Berhalter made it 2-0 in the 84th.

___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Before an injury-plagued junior year American Heritage defensive back Mekhi Hicks entertained the notion to hang up his football cleats.

As he stood at the podium of the Brian Piccolo Chapter’s 50th Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet at the Bahia Mar on Thursday night, he compared himself to Piccolo as an “underdog.”

“My sophomore year, going into my junior year, the odds were stacked against me,” said Hicks, who was one of four overall winners recognized at the Brian Piccolo Chapter’s 50th Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet at the Bahia Mar on Thursday night.

“I was beaten out of a starting (defensive back) spot by my best friend (Jordan Rich),” said Hicks, who will attend Harvard in the fall. “I was battling injuries and it was a very dark point in my life. I actually thought about quitting but I put my head down and decided to grind. I made the most out of my situation and from that point on, I was just going hard after everything. This is something that shows the work I put in off the field too. I am glad all of those hours got me recognized today.”

Hicks was a team captain who spearheaded the state-champion Patriots’ defense with 90 tackles, including 25 assists, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and 10 passes defended. He was equally stellar in the classroom with a 4.9 GPA. Hicks is also a member of the school’s track and field team.

In addition to Hicks, other overall winners at the banquet included Deerfield Beach’s Jaxson Jewel, Stoneman Douglas’ Adam Shaikh and Pembroke Pines Charter’s Keidran Willis Jr., who were all recognized as the Orange Bowl Committee winners of the Scholar-Athlete Award.

The Brian Piccolo Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame program ceremony honored 41 senior football players from Broward County schools for their academic achievements and volunteer work in the community.

Jewel, a Navy commit, sparkled in the classroom as well with a 5.25 GPA, which ranks him 15th in a class of 436. He excelled in football, track and boys basketball.

“When they first told me I was getting this award, I was actually in class taking a calculus test,” said Jewel, who hopes to be a pilot. “They pulled me out of class and gave me the award and I was both shocked and honored. Being a scholar-athlete is something my parents strived for and I strive for. It’s more than about sports, it is about academics and having high character.”

Shaikh is dual-enrolled at Stoneman Douglas and FAU. He sports a weighted GPA of 5.42 and is his school’s Salutatorian in a class of 804. Shaikh, an outside linebacker for the Eagles, volunteered more than 300 hours for TOPSoccer and is going to study at UF.

“This is a very prestigious honor,” Shaikh said. “Being a scholar athlete means that you put in the work on the field and in the classroom. There were a lot of sleepless, tiring nights with a lot of stress and effort, but if you like what you do, and enjoy what you do, then it is all worth it.”

Willis Jr. held a 5.21 GPA and starred on the school’s football team, finishing with more than 1,600 all-purpose yards and 18 TDs. He also had 67 tackles and five forced fumbles, recovering four.

“I am very blessed and grateful for what this award signifies,” said Willis, who is headed to FSU. “For me, this is a representation of what it means to work hard. I want to be someone who takes care of my family and someone who leads and is a trailblazer for the next generation of my family. This shows I am on the right path to set myself up for the future.”

Andrew Indorf (St. Thomas Aquinas) was selected as the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital (U18) Sports Medicine Offensive Player of the Year. He signed with Towson State University.

Andrew Indorf (St. Thomas Aquinas), left, was selected as the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital (U18) Sports Medicine Offensive Player of the Year; Fort Lauderdale’s Hunter Pangia was named the BSN Sports Defensive Player of the Year, while Camden Hulse (Coral Springs) was honored by Cerra Enterprises as the Special Teams Player of the Year. All three were honored at the Brian Piccolo Chapter’s 50th Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet at the Bahia Mar on Thursday night. (Gary Curreri/Contributor)

Indorf, who was the Sun Sentinel’s Class 7A-6A Offensive Player of the Year, said his award had added significance because Piccolo meant so much to the Raiders program.

“(Brian) Piccolo was a St. Thomas grad, so to be mentioned in the same breath as him means so much,” said Indorf, a three-time state champion and the school’s all-time leader in passing yards with 5,675 yards and TDs with 66. “This gives me confidence to bring my abilities to the next level. It was nice for me to be able to put a little suit on, and my parents to get dressed up, and this was a luxury to be honored.”

Fort Lauderdale’s Hunter Pangia was named the BSN Sports Defensive Player of the Year, while Camden Hulse (Coral Springs) was honored by Cerra Enterprises as the Special Teams Player of the Year.

“It’s a great honor to be at this event,” said Pangia, who had a 5.3226 weighted GPA and scored 1350 on his SAT. He was selected captain at Fort Lauderdale in football and track and was captain of the BCAA All-Star football team. He is attending the UF where he will pursue wrestling. “It’s only the best of the best that could come here with exceptional people in the classroom and on the field.”

Hulse, who plays soccer, football, and lacrosse for the Colts, is also the school’s Valedictorian in a class of 509. The four-year letter winner in soccer had a weighted GPA of 5.4688 and accumulated 352 community service hours.

“I am glad to be in a room with my peers, who accomplished so much on the field and in the classroom,” Hulse said. “Being able to balance both was a challenge, but it was worth pushing through.”

Blanche Ely grad Henri Crockett, an FSU grad who went on to play seven seasons in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings was honored as the Distinguished American at the ceremony. Crockett, co-founder of the Crockett Foundation with his brother Zack, also a former NFL player, is the Orange Bowl Committee President.

Willie Roberts was recognized for his 55 years as a game official and former Cooper City Athletic Director Paul Megna was honored for his contribution to amateur athletics over 40 years.

Wake Forest head football coach Jake Dickert served as the keynote speaker.

Piccolo lost his battle with cancer in 1970 at the age of 26. He played high school football at St. Thomas Aquinas, collegiate football at Wake Forest University, and in the NFL with the Chicago Bears. The football stadium on the campus at St. Thomas Aquinas is named after him and he inspired the 1971 movie ‘Brian’s Song.’

The Miami Dolphins enter Friday with two picks on the second day of the three-day NFL draft — one in the second round (No. 48) and one in the third round (No. 98).

In recent years this is where the draft has fallen apart for the Dolphins and general manager Chris Grier.

Here are 20 players who could be available Friday night for Miami.

Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi

Amos (6 foot 1, 195 pounds), projected as a second-round pick, is a feisty player who has length, speed and quickness. He’s been best in zone coverage but has the ability to play man. He had 13 pass break ups partly because he uses his hands well.

Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame

Watts (6-0, 204) is a second- or third-round pick whose strength is his coverage skills and whose weakness is his tackling skills. Still, he posted 82 tackles while playing deep and in the box. He’s regarded as a very instinctive player.

Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

Morrison (6-0, 193) missed the final 10 games last season with a hip injury but he’s projected as a second-round pick largely due to his athleticism, nine career picks and blanket coverage. He’s not especially big or long-armed but he’s skilled.

Jonah Savaiinaea, G-OT, Arizona

Savaiinaea (6-4, 324) has played LT, RT and RG during his three-year career. He’s projected as a second- or third-round selection who is regarded as a better run blocker than pass blocker. He has more experience at the tackle positions than guard.

Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

Porter (6-3, 195), a third-round projection, has the length and size that teams desire. But he’s only been playing CB for three years after switching from WR. He had 3 INTs last year as a sixth-year senior. Has good instinct and coverage skills but his fundamentals need work.

Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State

Farmer (6-3, 305), projected as a third-round pick, is a thickly-built wide body who can stop the run effectively in any system. He doesn’t have head-turning stats (32 tackles, 4.0 sacks) but his 8 tackles for loss are impressive. His 9.0 sacks over the past two years is good, but not great.

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Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

Thomas (6-2, 197), projected as a second- or third-round pick, specializes in press coverage. He has good length and aggression. He had 52 tackles but just one INT as his finishing skills could use some work.

Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia

Ratledge (6-7, 308), a second- or third-round prospect, is a top-level pass protector. He’s physical and tough. He’s not very athletic but displays good hands and feet, which he uses to maintain blocks. 

Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee

Norman-Lott (6-2, 291) didn’t make any starts for the Volunteers, and rather served as a rotation-based pass rusher totaling 18 tackles and 4.0 sacks. He’s projected as a third-round pick because he’s so effective at applying pressure. He’s fairly one-dimensional.

Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas

Mukuba (5-11, 186), projected as a third-round pick, specializes in getting to the ball as his five INTs and seven PBUs will attest. He’s a physical player but his fundamentals are lacking. He can also play the slot. 

C.J. West, DT, Indiana

West (6-1, 316), projected as a third- or fourth-round selection, is a run-stopping specialist who relies on athleticism and strength to get rid of blocks and make plays. He’s had 14.5 TFL in the past two seasons, with only 4.0 sacks, which shows he makes plays behind the line of scrimmage aside from sacks. 

Wyatt Milum, G-OT, West Virginia

Milum (6-7, 313), who figures to be drafted in the third or fourth rounds, is a brick wall when it comes to pass protection as he didn’t allow a sack in his final three seasons. He was a LT in college but is projected to move inside in the NFL.

Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky

Walker (6-7, 331) is a big man who is capable of being dominant if he maintains a low pad level. Walker, projected as a third-round pick, must answer questions about his motor and fundamentals. 

Jonas Sanker, S, Virginia

Sanker (6-0, 206), projected as a third- or fourth-round pick, had 98 tackles, including 8.5 TFL. Sanker has good size and fundamentals but he needs to sharpen his instincts. He has special teams value, which should earn him playing time as a rookie.

Billy Bowman, S, Oklahoma

Bowman (5-10, 192), who figures to be drafted in the third or fourth rounds, totaled 54 tackles and two INTs last season. He doesn’t have ideal size or skills but he’s instinctive and versatile. 

Anthony Belton, OT, North Carolina State

Belton (6-6, 336), projected as a third- or fourth-round pick, is a LT by trade but he could play either side in the NFL. He’s got good strength and power but needs to utilize hands better.

Marcus Mbow, OT-G, Purdue

Mbow (6-4, 303), who figures to be selected in the third or fourth rounds, played RG and RT during his college career. He figures to play onside or outside in the NFL. He has good athleticism, quickness and physicality but not necessarily ideal bulk. 

Emery Jones, G, LSU

Jones (6-5, 315) is a long-armed RT who is projected to move inside in the NFL. He’s regarded as a third-round pick who is a better run blocker than pass protector. He’s got good hands but his footwork could use help.

Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville

Riley (5-11, 194) totaled 2 INTs and 13 PBUs last season and is projected as a third- or fourth-round draft pick. Riley was inconsistent last season and his performance dipped but he’s regarded as a solid prospect.

Charles Grant, G, William & Mary

Grant (6-5, 311), projected as a third-round pick, has been a LT throughout college but projects to move inside. There’s a concern with him stepping up in competition level. He’s also considered to be a bit raw.

MIAMI GARDENS — I like the Miami Dolphins drafting Michigan nose tackle/defensive tackle Kenneth Grant in the first round of the draft on Thursday night.

I like Grant’s attitude and mentality.

Granted, I didn’t think he’d get selected at No. 13, which is where the Dolphins drafted him. I thought Grant would go in the first round, but in the late teens or 20s.

Whatever.

He’s a run-stopper who talks of playing with force and utilizing his bull-rush skills. He talks of eventually bringing more power to his pass rush.

He talks the talk, and it sounds good.

“I think this addition of me to the Miami Dolphins is going to be one for the books,” Grant said Thursday night on a Zoom conference call with South Florida media.

Grant (6 foot 4, 331 pounds) is a large man who gobbles up runners as easily as he gobbles up double teams.

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Grant is joining a team that’s been accused of playing a finesse brand of ball and folding in cold weather. He should break both molds. He says he knows the importance of playing in the trenches.

“You’ve just got to have a dawg mentality,” Grant said. “A ‘team over me’ type of mentality, kind of a head space. Just being able to be a guy that does all the dirty work, you know, let other teammates shine.”

Grant, with his attitude and skill level, is a ray of sunshine in an otherwise glum Dolphins offseason that’s included the departures of offensive tackle Terron Armstead, defensive tackle Calais Campbell, a trade situation with cornerback Jalen Ramsey and knucklehead behavior by wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

Grant represents hope for a team that is coming off a disappointing and injury-filled 8-9 season.

General manager Chris Grier said the Dolphins were “very happy” to select Grant.

“He was one of the players that we had targeted,” Grier said, echoing the words and thoughts of every other NFL GM on Thursday.

“There are a number of players we had liked at that spot, and he was one of them.”

What you want from this draft pick is for Grant to be aggressive and physical, two traits the Dolphins lack, and two traits that Grant possessed in college.

Toughness should be a huge priority for the Dolphins in this draft.

At some point, the Dolphins must trade their finesse 7-on-7 mentality for a knock-you-on-your-butt tackle football mentality.

Understand a few things …

We know this draft pick won’t help with the Dolphins’ top two problems —  culture, and their Big 3 shrinking against top teams.

As for the culture, I’ve told you their priorities are mixed up, that some players care more about contract extensions, statistics and social media popularity than winning playoff games.

This first-round draft pick won’t help that.

As for the Big 3, I’ve told you that wide receivers Hill and Jaylen Waddle don’t have a 100-yard game against a playoff team in two years.

In that span quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions against playoff teams. And the Dolphins have a 2-10 record against playoff teams in the past two years.

So, as long as you understand that Grant won’t help Tyreek and Waddle get open against playoff teams, and he won’t help Tua throw more touchdowns and fewer interceptions against playoff teams, we’ll be OK moving forward.

Here’s something else to keep in mind — the Dolphins badly need to reinvent their thinking on trench play, meaning the offensive and defensive linemen.

Grier said the Dolphins would “invest” in the offensive line this offseason. They’ve made a small investment, signing guard James Daniels, who is recovering from an Achilles injury that limited him to four games with Pittsburgh last year, signing guard-tackle Larry Borom, a backup, and re-signing guard-center Liam Eichenberg, also a backup, and guard-tackle Jackson Carman, another backup.

On the defensive line the Dolphins re-signed little-used tackles Matt Dickerson and Benito Jones.

They’ll need more defensive line help later in the draft and also in free agency.

That could be an issue.

Grier has been in charge of the Dolphins’ drafts since 2016.

His best first-round picks — offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil in 2016, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2018, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in 2019, Tua in 2020, right tackle Austin Jackson in 2020, Waddle and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips in 2021 — were really good players.

His second through seventh rounds are a bit shaky.

That’s irrelevant for now.

I like Grant.

I like his mentality and I like the selection.

Here’s hoping he brings physicality and aggression along with his run-stuffing skills, and I think that’ll happen. 

TAMPA — Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov left Thursday’s win over the Lightning after taking a big hit from Brandon Hagel, and he did not return before the end of the game.

Florida coach Paul Maurice did not provide an update on the star center’s status after the game.

Barkov played 15:41 in the victory and recorded an assist on Nate Schmidt’s goal in the first period.

Barkov suffered an upper-body injury earlier this month, which kept him out of a pair of games. He returned before the regular season ended.

Forward Sam Bennett offered an encouraging thought after the game.

“It’s tough to lose him,” Bennett said in a postgame TV interview. “He does everything for this squad. We care about him a lot. He’s a tough guy, so I’m sure he’ll be fine. But you hate to see that.”

Barkov, who anchors Florida’s top line, had 20 goals and 51 assists during the regular season. He has three assists in the postseason.

“He means everything (to the team),” Panthers center Anton Lundell said. “He’s our captain, our leader, you know, so obviously, we never want to have him out of the lineup. But at the same time, we’ve got to be able to step up. Everybody, not just me, the whole team. He’s been carrying us a lot during the whole season. So we all owe him that, to step up and make sure that a job is taken care of.”

Brandon Hagel has been given a 5-minute major for this hit on Aleksander Barkov pic.twitter.com/xn6RQcTqS2

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 25, 2025

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins took defensive tackle/nose tackle Kenneth Grant with their first-round draft pick, the No. 13 selection of the 2025 NFL draft.

Here are some things to know about Grant: 

Kenneth Grant

Pos./round: DT-NT/No. 13, 1st round (No. 13)

School: Michigan

Year: Junior

Ht: 6-4  Wt: 331

Hometown: Gary, Ind.

Comment: Grant is a wide body who plays the run effectively. He fills a need on the defensive front and should be a Day One starter and impactful player. …

Last season he played in 12 games and finished with 32 tackles, 3.0 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss to go along with 5 pass break ups. …

Two years ago, the year Michigan won the national title. Grant started all 15 games and recorded 29 tackles, 3.5 sacks 5 TFL. …

Grant is regarded as a smart player but his pass rush skills need some work. …

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“You’re just going to see an athlete that’s a freak,” NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah. “He’s not a polished rusher yet. I think that’s all in front of him. I think in the meantime, he’s someone who is going to dominate against the run. He’s going to eat blocks.”

Grant, who projects as a three-down player, can take on double teams and still make tackles against the run. …

An anonymous coach told The Athletic: “He was just as impactful in our game as (Mason) Graham (who was selected fifth overall by Cleveland). He’s a monster. He’s big and nasty and has some pass rush to him.”

“I thought he was just OK. I didn’t love him. I thought he took plays off. He’d jump around blocks. He didn’t always play through the blocks. He is very athletic, and you do see flashes of really good stuff.” . …

Sad general manager Chris Grier: “We were very excited to get him there … we think he’s a tremendous player. We think he’s going to be a potential impact player for us.”

Grier said Grant isn’t viewed as just a run stopper. …

Coach Mike McDaniel said “I think the most exciting part to adding him is you love players that are good players and make other people better players.”

An absolute UNIT.

Quick thoughts from South Florida Sun Sentinel staffers on the Miami Dolphins’ selection of Kenneth Grant at pick No. 13 in the first round of 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night:

Dave Hyde, Columnist

The Dolphins filled a big hole with a big, 330-pound defensive tackle. The question always was finding a player with a chance to be great at tackle, cornerback or maybe guard with the 13th pick. Grant has that chance.

Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist

I like the pick of defensive tackle/nose tackle Kenneth Grant (6 foot 4, 331 pounds) although I think he might be over-selected at No. 13. Still, he fills a need and he should be a good fit on the front. He’s a big-bodied run stuffer who should fit in well on the defensive front.

David Furones, Dolphins Writer

Once the two cornerbacks, Will Johnson and Jahdae Barron, were there, I thought it would be one of them. I would’ve preferred one of them, but I’m not mad at the pick, as Miami also needed to add a defensive tackle. Grant is a big run-stuffer and also moves well for his size, so he can complement Zach Sieler with some additional interior pass rush. There are also good cornerbacks that should stick around for Round 2 Friday night.

Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor

Grant is a massive man who should give the Dolphins a lively front four, assuming pass rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips return at full speed. The run defense gets a big boost. Grant has seen his weight fluctuate, so that will be something to pay attention to.

Michigan to Miami

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins selected a Michigan defender in the first round, but not the one everyone thought they would.

The Dolphins took Wolverines defensive tackle Kenneth Grant with the No. 13 pick on Thursday night.

They needed an infusion of young defensive line help, and they addressed that hole in the first round of the draft after largely bypassing any significant move for a defensive tackle in the first wave of free agency over the past month.

But the Dolphins also have a similar need for a high-end cornerback in this draft after revealing last week they are set to trade Jalen Ramsey, and they selected Grant with Michigan teammate Will Johnson on the board, along with Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. Barron went to the Denver Broncos with the 20th pick, but Johnson did not get picked in the first round.

“I was pretty surprised,” Grant said of receiving the call from the Dolphins, before proclaiming with a smile, “I’m in Miami!”

With the options Miami had, general manager Chris Grier said the team was actively working the phones looking to trade, both up and down in the first round.

But once the Dolphins were on the clock, they were happy to take Grant where they were.

“We were very excited to get him there,” Grier said. “He was one of the players that we had targeted. There were a number of players we liked at that spot. He was one of them. Very happy to get him.”

Grier even said, immediately after taking Grant, he received three text messages from other teams picking after Miami, saying he was their guy.

Grant is 6 foot 4 and 331 pounds, capable of stuffing run lanes as a big nose tackle.

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He also moves well at his size, possessing athleticism to provide an interior pass rush. Grant recorded 6 1/2 sacks between the past two seasons for Michigan.

“We don’t view him as just a run stopper,” Grier said. “We do think he has ability to generate (pressure). The ability to push the pocket, is a huge thing in the NFL now. I think he has tremendous work ethic and upside to do that.”

Added coach Mike McDaniel of Grant: “Affects the run game, affects the pass game, affects the pocket. You talk about some of the biggest impacts in the National Football League on pass downs is where the line of scrimmage is set, how much pocket push you can get.”

Further to McDaniel’s point, Grant also had 12 pass deflections at the line of scrimmage in his three college seasons.

For Grant, the power of his rush along with that above-average athleticism for his size are at the heart of what he can do in disrupting the passing game.

“My power and speed,” he said. “A lot of guys this size aren’t really as fast as me or can do finesse things like me. So I think, just working off that, but for me right now, it’s just all power, bull rushing and things like that.”

Miami is known to need defensive tackles around 2024 team MVP Zach Sieler, who turns 30 at the start of next season, while the roster also lost Calais Campbell and Da’Shawn Hand in free agency. The team also returns nose tackle Benito Jones and brought back reserve Matt Dickerson on the D-line.

McDaniel noted his defense can play light boxes with Grant’s big presence.

The only question in picking a defensive lineman was whether the Dolphins would take one of the ones not named Mason Graham, also out of Michigan, at 13. Many of the others were expected to last deep into the first round, while some other good ones should be available in the second round Friday.

After Grant was taken 13th by Miami, Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen went to the Arizona Cardinals at 16, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon went to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21st pick and Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams was picked by the Detroit Lions at 28.

The selection of Grant is sure to make Dolphins owner Steve Ross happy. Ross is a Michigan alumnus, a major donor to the university and has the business school at Ann Arbor named after him.

Grier said Ross had the Michigan fight song playing at team headquarters.

Grant is the first Michigan player selected in the first round of a draft by Miami since offensive tackle Jake Long was the No. 1 pick in 2008.

The Dolphins made their choice while, along with the two strong cornerbacks, Penn State tight end Tyler Warren and North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel, were also among prospects remaining available at the time of the selection.

The Dolphins brass feels they can still find the secondary help they need either in Friday’s second round, picking at No. 48, or in later stages of free agency.

TAMPA — The Panthers played with fire Thursday night, but they escaped without getting burned.

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Florida surrendered five power plays to Tampa Bay in Game 2 of the first round, but the Panthers killed all five en route to a 2-0 win over the Lightning at Amalie Arena in Tampa. The win gives the Panthers a 2-0 lead in the series with the next two games in Sunrise.

“We put ourselves in a good position here,” Florida defenseman Seth Jones said. “We understand the series isn’t over. That’s a great team over there. They’re capable of putting up big numbers. So there’s no letdown in our game. We’re excited to get back in front of our fans and use some of that momentum.”

Nate Schmidt, who had five goals all season, continued his playoff offensive outburst early in the game. After the Panthers killed off an early penalty, Schmidt opened the scoring with his third goal of the series 4:15 into the first period on a one-timer from near the blue line.

Schmidt’s third goal tied the NHL record for most goals by a defenseman in the first two games of the postseason.

“He needs to keep shooting the puck, that’s for sure,” Jones said. “He’s got a great shot. He’s being aggressive right now, and it’s great to see.”

From that point on, the Panthers’ defense — combined with some luck — locked the Lightning down. Tampa Bay had opportunities to score with chances in front of Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, but their shots either went wide of the net or were stopped by the Panthers veteran.

Bobrovsky, who has starred during the Panthers’ two runs to the Stanley Cup Final, posted his first shutout of this year’s postseason. He had 19 saves in the win.

“I just stay with the moment and just get ready for what comes,” Bobrovsky said. “… (The team has) done a great job in front of me.”

The Panthers’ penalty-kill success continued through the third period. The last one ended when Lightning forward Brandon Hagel landed a big hit on Panthers center Aleksander Barkov and was charged with a five-minute major. Florida had more than four minutes of a power play but could not cash in.

More pressing was the pain Hagel’s hit inflicted on Barkov. The Panthers star did not return to the ice, and coach Paul Maurice did not have an update on his status after the game.

Florida fended off about two minutes of Tampa Bay playing with an extra attacker to end the game, holding off the Lightning to seal the win. Sam Bennett scored an empty-net goal in the final seconds to end the Lightning’s last hopes.

“It’s exactly what we wanted to do – come in here and win the first two,” Bennett said. “Obviously the games aren’t perfect. There was a couple mistakes by us tonight, but that’ll happen. And guys were helping each other out, bailing each other out. Bobby played unbelievable again, bailed us out a bunch. And sometimes you need just gutty efforts — tough, greasy games — and that’s what tonight was.”