Former Maryland Lacrosse SSDM Makes Dolphins' 53-Man Roster

Dante Trader Jr., the two-sport standout at Maryland who was an All-American defensive midfielder in lacrosse, was named to the Miami Dolphins’ initial 53-man roster on Tuesday.

A fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Trader is one of 12 defensive backs and six safeties on the team. Dolphins special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman told reporters during training camp that coaches liked Trader’s versatility.

“We’ll try to move him around a bunch of different positions just because of the type of athlete that he is,” Aukerman told A to Z Sports earlier this month.

Recruited to play football and lacrosse at Maryland, Trader only suited up for one season in the latter sport but made it count. He was a 2023 USILA Division I third-team All-American at the short-stick defensive midfield position. The 5-foot-11, 203-pound dynamo appeared in all 16 games that spring, finishing with five goals, two assists, 14 caused turnovers and 17 ground balls.

Even though he was the No. 9-ranked recruit in his class, according to Inside Lacrosse, Trader wanted to play in the NFL and decided to focus on football. He recorded 190 tackles (123 solo), 16 pass deflections, five interceptions and a forced fumble in 47 games during his four years as a Terp. According to Pro Football Focus, Trader was the highest-graded tackler (90.0) in the Big Ten. His grade against the run (83.0) also ranked sixth. He was the 155th overall selection in the April draft. The Dolphins took Maryland defensive lineman Jordan Phillips just 12 picks earlier.

Trader grew up in Delaware and attended Delmar High School before transferring to known lacrosse powerhouse McDonogh School in Maryland. He was an All-MIAA selection in both sports. He is a self-described “pest,” having played just about every position in the defensive backfield. He writes the word on his hand and on a sticky note on his mirror to remind himself of his role.

Pests tend to stick around no matter who tries to swat them away. And for now, Trader is sticking around in Miami.