AVENTURA — Who better to forecast what new Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley will be like at the helm for the pro franchise than a player who was on the last team he led as a head coach?
Boston College offensive lineman Logan Taylor, who is training in South Florida for the NFL scouting combine at the end of the month, shared with the Sun Sentinel his thoughts on Hafley’s prospects leading the Dolphins. Taylor was with Hafley his final season coaching BC before he left to become Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator in 2024 and, ultimately, take the job in Miami two years later.
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“I think he’s going to be a great coach,” Taylor said after completing a Wednesday mock combine workout at Bommarito Performance Systems in northeast Miami-Dade County. “He’s a very professional-style coach that just attacks every day like a pro. He’s a very players’ coach. He cares for his players a lot. He’s going to do everything in the best interest of his players. He’s just an overall great coach. They’re very lucky to have him.”
Taylor started his college career at Virginia. After two seasons, he transferred to BC in 2023. Hafley recruited him there from the NCAA transfer portal and coached him that season.
“It was a great year with him, and I was very fortunate to spend my year with him,” Taylor said.
What’s the key to getting on Hafley’s good side?
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“It’s kind of like any coach,” he said. “As long as you’re performing on the field, doing the right things off the field and on the field, he’s going to be a likeable guy.”
Taylor’s thoughts echo reviews relayed by BC teammates in offensive tackle Jude Bowry and wide receiver Lewis Bond at the Senior Bowl.
Not only is Taylor’s former head coach with the Eagles now at the top of the Dolphins’ coaching staff. Hafley is bound to hire BC offensive line coach Matt Applebaum as Miami’s assistant offensive line coach, under Zach Yenser, who will lead the position group.
It’s the second time Applebaum joins the Dolphins from Boston College. He had a quick single season in former coach Mike McDaniel’s first year, 2022, before going back to BC.
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“Coach Applebaum was a great coach for me,” Taylor said. “He’s very technical in everything he does. Great preparation for the players to be ready for game day, and just an overall great guy to be around.”
The reason Applebaum has twice been identified as a fit on the Dolphins’ coaching staff is the offensive system the team wants to run. As both McDaniel and Hafley are Kyle Shanahan disciples — with Hafley on the defensive side — they’ll run similar blocking schemes, which have a propensity to use athletic offensive linemen in the outside zone.
“When you have that much history behind running that scheme, you’re going to lean on that more,” Taylor said.
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But even with the coaches and offensive system in his favor to make the Dolphins a potential landing spot for the blocker who is currently projected to go in the middle to late portions of the draft in late April, he’s not playing any favorites going through the process.
“I don’t have any specific team, just hopeful I get an opportunity. An opportunity is all I want,” Taylor said. “I don’t want to say I want to be in a specific scheme. I just want an opportunity to put my best foot forward.”
At Boston College, Taylor has mostly played tackle, but he also has experience at guard.
“Every position’s got their own ups and downs,” he said. “Tackle, it’s different coming out of a two-point stance to a three-point stance. Guard, you’re more close-knit to everybody. Each position is great. I just want to do what’s best for the team.”
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University of Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor works out at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Indiana University cornerback D’Angelo Ponds works out at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. Ponds is a graduate of Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young runs at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Boston College offensive tackle Logan Taylor runs at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Pete Bommarito instructs players on how to improve at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson runs the 40-yard dash at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) University of Miami linebacker Wesley Bissainthe works out at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Pete Bommarito times an athlete in the 40-yard dash at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) University of Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor is seen at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 10Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson works out at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)Expand
It’s unclear whether the team that drafts him would prefer him at one position over the other, but it doesn’t hurt Taylor that he has positional versatility.
“I hear a mix of everything,” he said. “I hear, ‘you’re a guard.’ I hear, ‘you’re a tackle.’ So, it really depends what the specific team thinks. I wouldn’t say I have one position I prefer over the other.”
Now months removed from the end of his college season, Taylor has been focused on getting stronger and faster in preparation for the combine at Bommarito’s. Several fellow BC offensive linemen have trained with Bommarito, including both Chris and Alec Lindstrom and, last year, tackle Ozzy Trapilo, who was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bears.
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What does Taylor hope teams know about him at the combine?
“I’m a hard(-working) guy on and off the field, that’s physically strong, mentally strong, that’s going to show up and be the same person every day,” Taylor said. “He’s going to come prepared. He’s going to be ready to attack every situation that’s thrown his way.”
