Florida A&M University alum Isaiah Land and Jackson State University alum Aubrey Miller Jr. have both signed NFL undrafted free agents contracts after completing rookie minicamps.
The star linebackers were rated the top-two HBCU defensive prospects at the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl before the 2023 NFL Draft in April.
Now they are both achieving their dreams of making it to the NFL. Land has signed with the Dallas Cowboys and Miller has signed on to play with the Miami Dolphins.
According to HBCU Legends, Land’s contract with the Cowboys is a 3-year, 2.7M contract with $100K fully guaranteed, averaging $900,000 annually. The news source said Land received a base salary of $750,000 with a $1,666 prorated bonus, including a $90,000 guaranteed salary in 2023, and will earn base salaries of $915K in 2024 and $1,030M in 2025, including the $1,666 yearly prorated bonuses.
In 2021, Land recorded 19 sacks and won the Buck Buchanan Award (National Defensive Player of the Year). He was also named SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and was first-team All-SWAC in 2021 and 2022.
As for Miller, his deal with the Dolphins is a 3-year, $2.705M contract with $110K fully guaranteed, averaging $901,667 annually, according to HBCU Legends. In 2023, he will earn a base salary of $750K with a $3,333 prorated bonus, including $100K guaranteed. Miller’s deal escalates to 915K in 2024 and $1.03M in 2035, including the $3,333 yearly prorated bonuses.
At Jackson State, Miller was tied for 9th in the FCS with a total of 112 tackles, averaging 8.6 tackles per game last season. He told HBCU Legends that his playing style is greatly influenced by Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis. “Ray Lewis being able to control the volume of a team,” Miller said. “Being able to bring the energy. Not only off the field but on the field. I mean, this guy who was laying everybody out, who’s still able to make the plays, who seemed like he was still able to control the plays, that’s the type of guy kind of brainwashed into me.”
