‘Animated’? ‘Extra’? ‘Annoying’? Dolphins’ Wilkins puts it this way: ‘I’m very myself’

During the middle of one mid-August training camp practice, Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins played the role of antagonist — more so than usual.

At one point, he snatched a towel off the hip of a running back and tossed it into the distance. At another, he refused to stop blocking Alec Ingold long after a Jevon Holland interception, an entanglement that led to the two wrestling to the ground before being separated — one of the few scrums between Dolphins players during the summer.

Now, to be clear: There’s no bad blood between Wilkins and his teammates. With day after day of practice after practice, there’s a concerted effort to avoid monotony.

“A lot of that is definitely calculated,” Wilkins later explained. “It just felt like we’re in day whatever at training camp, we’ve been going at it. Being in the position that I’m in, you have to recognize when there is a day or there is a time where guys will get a little — just human nature. You’ve been going hard practicing against each other in training camp, and you are kind of like, ‘Dang let’s just get to the game.’ But no, you’ve got to find a way to get yourself going so that everyone else can get going, too. It’s all definitely calculated to bring a little bit more juice and energy to practice.”

The games are finally here.

The Dolphins open the 2022 season Sunday against the New England Patriots and Wilkins, heading into the fourth year of his five-year rookie contract, will be leaned on once again to bring energy on and off the field to a team trying to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and win a playoff game for the first time since 2000.

“I know you guys see out on the field; it’s not just that,” defensive line coach Austin Clark told reporters. “It’s in the meeting room. It’s around the building. It’s on his off time ... Being around the facility, working hard, he’s developed into a true professional. I know you definitely see the energy that he brings every day, but there’s also an element of seriousness when he goes about his business throughout the week. And his preparation, I would say, is his best quality.

“He’s awesome; you couldn’t ask for a better pro in terms of the way he approaches his work,” Clark continued. “I’m excited to see where he goes and hopefully we continue each day getting better and better.”

And Wilkins does it with his own flair. The 6-4, 310-pound defensive tackle can regularly be seen dancing, and had no shame doing the “worm” as his celebratory dance after catching a touchdown at the goal line against the New York Jets last December. His practice playlist when he had control of the song selection early in camp included The Jackson 5 and picks from the musical “Hamilton” (of which he is a big fan) in addition to songs from Jay-Z and Too Short.

“I would just say I’m very myself,” Wilkins said. “Animated, some people would say extra, some people would say annoying. I’m just having fun out there.”

Wilkins also understands how to balance having fun with work.

He has 192 tackles, eight sacks 11 defended passes, an interception and a forced fumble through 47 career games (43 starts) since being drafted 13th overall in 2019.

His talents are noticed by his teammates. Both Holland, the No. 1 safety, and All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard singled out Wilkins as a player they expect to have a breakout season.

“I try to come in here every day and work hard, and make the other guys around me better,” Wilkins said. “I just try to each and every day home in and focus on my technique, maximize my strengths and get better at my weaknesses. ...

“If you continue to do those things day after day, play after play, I guess people take note of those things. I just try to be the best teammate I can be, the best player I can be.”

To Wilkins, that comes by being himself, something first-year coach Mike McDaniel has encouraged.

“He invites you to be yourself,” Wilkins said. “That’s the number one thing. If you’re not yourself, and you’re trying to confine yourself in a way that he wants, it’s hard to be the player that you can be if you’re not the person you can be first.”

Miami Herald sportswriter Daniel Oyefusi contributed to this report.

This story was originally published September 7, 2022 at 6:00 AM.

Jordan McPherson

Miami Herald

305-376-2129

Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.