Born and raised in Hollywood, Florida, Travis Daniels attended South Broward High School, less than 15 miles from Hard Rock Stadium. Daniels spent four years at Louisiana State University, helping Nick Saban capture his first National Championship, before Saban would return the favor, this time as Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins, selecting Daniels in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Daniels would go on to play eight seasons (three with Miami) before trading his cleats for a camera and launching a photography business.
Diving in with O.J. and Seth, Travis discusses emulating Dolphins’ cornerbacks Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain as a youth (2:43); explains the double-edged sword of being drafted by Nick Saban after playing four years under the legendary college coach (9:05) and reflects upon his draft class that included Ronnie Brown, Channing Crowder, and Matt Roth (13:55). Travis also shares how meaningful it was to team with a group of Dolphins legends he grew up watching including Madison, Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, and Junior Seau (19:49), candidly explains the challenging shift from Saban’s coaching style to that of Cam Cameron (24:58), and reveals how an interest in pictures led to the eventual establishment of Travis Daniels Photography. Finally, Travis becomes the first ever guest to face The Fish Tank Two-Minute Drill (41:50). Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc, Alex Bitchatchi, and Miami Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D.
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Hailing from Orange County, California, Nik Needham’s journey to Miami Gardens was far longer than just the 2,700+ miles between the two communities. Needham lived in four different cities and attended three different high schools as a youth before weathering a 1-23 storm his final two seasons with the UTEP Miners, only to watch seven rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft come and go without hearing his name called. The Miami Dolphins ultimately gave Needham an opportunity as an undrafted free agent and he has responded by developing into a key contributor among the team’s star studded secondary.
Diving into The Tank, Nik looks back on his early high school days and the struggles of jumping from school to school, while also trying to secure playing time (4:13), as well as the impact moving in with his father, renown QB Coach Steve Calhoun, had on his life both on and off the field (6:25). He explains how he was able to avoid losing focus during a 1-30 stretch between his final two college seasons and first seven games as a pro (7:44). Nik goes on to reveal how these experiences, as well as going undrafted and being cut in his first training camp have all become factors in his internal motivation and drive (10:52), and brings us into the Dolphins defensive back room where he has learned from Pro Bowl cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, and now will be coached by former Fins legendary corners Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain (14:51). Just having recently signed his restricted free agent tender, Nik reflects upon where he has come from, and begin able to give back to the most important people in his life (24:32). Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc, Alex Bitchatchi, and Miami Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D.
A unique combination of size, speed, and athleticism helped Jaelan Phillips become the number one rated football recruit in the country in just his junior year at Redlands East Valley High School in California. Phillips followed a family legacy to UCLA and was on the path to fulfilling his gridiron dreams before a barrage of injuries, including being hit by a car, forced him into retirement. After walking away from the game completely, Phillips seized the opportunity to enroll at the University of Miami, rebuilt himself mentally and physically, and became a stalwart of the Hurricanes’ defense earning second-team All-American honors. The Miami Dolphins helped Phillips find football redemption when they selected him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he responded by setting a new franchise record for quarterback sacks as a rookie with 8.5.
In The Tank, Jaelan discusses his early interactions with new Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel (5:42), relives his journey from being the nation’s top high school prospect to becoming a promising young UCLA player battling unprecedented adversity (9:56), and candidly shares his feelings of failure after being faced with medical retirement just two years into his college career (17:40). Jaelan also stresses the importance of managing the mental aspect of football (19:28), reveals why he worked with a confidence coach this past year (21:06), reflects upon his strong finish to the 2021 season (23:33), and explains what drives him to give back to the South Florida community (28:52). Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc, Alex Bitchatchi, and Miami Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D.
From the moment Tua Tagovailoa threw the game-winning touchdown pass to lift the University of Alabama to their 17th National Championship in 2017, he kickstarted a journey that would see him capture nearly every college football award imaginable, along with the hearts of Crimson Tide fans across the country. The Miami Dolphins selected Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft and in two seasons with the team, he has a 13-8 starting record and has done so with the second-highest completion percentage in team history.
In The Tank, Tua reacts to first-year Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel’s on-stage performance at the quarterback’s recent charity event (1:32), reveals what took place on the other side of the now famous FaceTime call between coach and QB (3:36), and addresses the “noise” that has surrounded him his entire career (9:08). Tua also shares his excitement for the Dolphins' offseason personnel moves (12:06) while managing the expectations that may be built as a result of them (13:38). The Dolphins QB1 discusses leadership (15:19), his relationship with Dan Marino (16:12), the importance of family (18:20), and his motivation behind establishing the Tua Foundation (23:03). Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc, Alex Bitchatchi, and Miami Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D.
The decorated football career of Ricky Williams is the stuff of legend, featuring an NCAA career rushing record, the 1998 Heisman Trophy, becoming the first player ever to represent a National Football League team’s entire draft class in 1999, and an NFL rushing title in 2002. It is Williams’s enigmatic personality, however, that has often stood out even more than his gridiron greatness. The combination of the two endeared Williams to Miami Dolphins fans around the world when the team brought him to South Florida through a 2002 trade with the New Orleans Saints, and resulted in confusion, hurt, and outrage upon his unexpected but temporary retirement from football just days before the 2004 season.
In May of 2020, Ricky took his first opportunity to Dive in The Tank and fondly recalled his years as a Dolphin, particularly his prolific first two seasons (9:13). He candidly detailed the decisions behind his retirement, including a surprising assist from an unlikely source (25:36), his conversations with then Dolphins Head Coach Dave Wannstedt (28:50), and how meaningful and self-healing his time away from football was (32:58). Ricky also covered his respect for Nick Saban (38:50), his special friendship with fellow Fins rusher Ronnie Brown, and of course talks the Wild Cat from his perspective (42:57). Contributors to this episode include Sean Todd aka DJ Prēc and Miami Dolphins Productions. Theme song created and performed by The Honorable SoLo D. |
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