Elijah Tau-Tolliver is getting a shot to prove he belongs at the next level, and the former Michigan State running back will do it in front of the Miami Dolphins.
Tau-Tolliver worked out this week for Miami after the team lost star back De’Von Achane to a season-ending knee injury. The Dolphins are moving ahead with Ollie Gordon and Jaylen Wright while Achane recovers from surgery and misses the rest of the year, but they’re clearly searching for another option to bolster the room.
Tau-Tolliver’s name was part of a larger list of players Miami brought in for workouts. According to Aaron Wilson, the Dolphins also worked out Amari Burney, Jack Dingle, Brandon George, Hassan Haskins, Damien Martinez, Dassan McCullough, Kenny McIntosh, Antwaun Powell-Ryaland, T.J. Quinn and Nathan Voorhis, and James Ester signed.
That makes Tau-Tolliver one of several backs trying to catch Miami’s eye, including some familiar names to Michigan fans and Big Ten followers. Hassan Haskins is on the list, and Damien Martinez also has a connection to Jonathan Smith from Oregon State. Even so, Tau-Tolliver has a case of his own.
He arrived at Michigan State from Sacramento State in the offseason before Jonathan Smith’s final season in 2025 and was expected to back up Makhi Frazier. Instead, he split the No. 2 job with Brandon Tullis, finishing with 72 carries to Tullis’ 69. Tau-Tolliver made the most of his touches, averaging 5.9 yards per carry, while Tullis averaged 4.4.
The numbers back up the idea that Tau-Tolliver was one of the more underrated players in that backfield. In 2025, he finished with 567 total yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, while Frazier posted 545 yards and two touchdowns as the starter.
Tau-Tolliver played only one season in East Lansing before entering the draft process. He went unselected and later signed with the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad.
Now he’s looking for a different opening, and Miami’s injury situation at least gives him one. With Achane out, the Dolphins may be willing to take a chance on an undrafted back. Tau-Tolliver just has to be the one who makes the cut.
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Michigan State Enters Wisconsin With Its Offense Suddenly Under Pressure
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For Michigan State, the timing is especially tricky because the backfield picture has shifted so suddenly, forcing the staff to reshuffle around Edwards absence. Wisconsins recent surge adds another test, and both coaches have acknowledged the stakes of where each team stands entering the matchup. The Spartans are trying to steady an offense under pressure, while the Badgers are leaning into a strong response after a dramatic victory that changed the tone around their season. [Read more 🡒]