BY DAVID J. NEAL

In the early post-draft flurry of undrafted free agent signings, the Dolphins reportedly have signed eight.

They are: University of Delaware offensive tackle Mike Byrne, who protected Baltimore first-round pick quarterback Joe Flacco; Boise State offensive tackle Dan Gore; Portland State offensive tackle Daren Heerspink; Brigham Young linebacker Kelly Poppinga, brother of Green Bay linebacker Brady Poppinga; Maine tight end Matt Mulligan; Montana kicker Dan Carpenter; Hawaii wide receiver Davone Bess; and Georgia Southern quarterback Jayson Foster.

The few undrafted rookie free agents who survive the first cuts of training camp usually wind up on the practice squad. Injuries, overachievement or underachievement can change things.

Six undrafted free agents signed by the Dolphins were on the 2007 roster, and three -- long snapper John Denney (2005), safety Courtney Bryan (2007) and linebacker Edmond Miles (2007) -- played every game. Safety Tuff Harris (2007) spent most of the season on the practice squad before safety injuries forced him into the lineup for the season finale.

Foster won the 2007 Walter Payton Award as the top player in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (nee Division I-AA) as a quarterback a year after Southern Conference coaches voted him all-conference at wide receiver (first team) and kick returner (second team). As a quarterback in 2007, he ran for a NCAA Division I-quarterback record 1,844 yards.

Expect Foster to get the chance in training camp to return kicks or operate as an occasional wide receiver who can be a throwing threat on gadget plays. He completed 64.1 percent of his passes last year and averaged 11 yards per completion.

In a bit of irony, the Dolphins drafted a Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I) quarterback whose team lost to I-AA power Appalachian State in 2007, Michigan's Chad Henne, and signed as an undrafted free agent a quarterback whose team beat Appalachian State in 2007 (38-35) to end Appalachian's 30-game home winning streak.

Dolphins vice president in charge of football operations Bill Parcells and general manager Jeff Ireland certainly hold no prejudices when it comes to the former Division I-AA -- they found 2002 Payton Award winner Tony Romo and brought him to Dallas as an undrafted free agent.

Byrne got the benefit of being on the same game film as with Flacco, who was scouted by every NFL team that needed a quarterback, including the Dolphins. Byrne also was an Academic All-American at the Level Formerly Known as Division I-AA.

Poppinga had spent his previous college years at outside linebacker until BYU asked him to move inside for his senior season. He's 26, four to six years older than most NFL rookies. Not only did he sit out the 2005 season after transferring to BYU from Utah State, but he didn't enter college until three years after he graduated high school. He spent one post-high school year working, then did his two-year Mormon mission in Ecuador (Dolphins fourth-round pick Shawn Murphy also is older than the average rookie, 25, after doing his two-year mission in Brazil).

Everyone did a great job on Little Nicky' post with the UDFA signings. Just thought I'd give the quick low-down on each. Here are is a lil info:

Mike Byrne - OT,  University of Delaware

6-6, 295 lbs

A senior co-captain for the University of Delaware football team that advanced to the national championship game in December, has been named to the 10th annual NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association National Academic All-Star team.

Byrne, a 6-foot 6-inch, 295-pound offensive tackle from Lititz, Pa., was one of 51 players from the Football Championship Subdivision honored for their accomplishments both in the classroom and on the playing field. Nominees must carry a 3.2 or higher grade point index and be a key starter or reserve.

Byrne, who led the Fightin' Blue Hens to an 11-4 record in 2007, earned All-America honors from four organizations. He was named first All-America by the College Sporting News and by the Walter Camp Foundation, second team by the Sports Network and third team by the Associated Press.

A four-year letter winner, three-year starter and 2007 co-captain, Byrne spearheaded an offense that led the Colonial Athletic Association in scoring offense (36.2, 11th in NCAA), passing offense (289.5) and total offense (460.6).

Byrne carries a 3.5 grade point average as a double major in psychology and criminal justice. He earned first team College Sports Information Directors of America District 2 All-Academic honors this past fall after being named to the second team in 2006. He is also a four-time CAA Academic Honor Roll recipient.

Byrne, a Division I-AA All-American who blocked for Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco (taken by the Ravens with the 18th pick Saturday), will be converted to center. Obviously, the Dolphins watched plenty of film on Byrne, because they were also interested in Flacco. **

Dan Gore - OT,  Boise State

Height: 6-5. Weight: 251 lbs. Age: 23

COLLEGE – (2007) Started all 12 of Boise State’s games at right tackle...Key cog in the  Broncos offensive line that helped Boise State’s offense finish the regular season ranked fifth in the country in scoring, sixth in passing efficiency, ninth in total offense and 31st in rushing offense...

(2006) Second on the depth chart at right tackle after moving from the defensive line during fall camp...

(2005) Backup defensive tackle for the Broncos...Finished with three tackles, one each against Georgia, Bowling Green and Idaho... 

(2004) Backup defensive tackle for the Broncos...Finished with three tackles, one each against Idaho, SMU and Hawai’i...

(2003) Redshirted for the Broncos.

HIGH SCHOOL - A 2003 graduate of Prosser High School in Prosser, Washington...Played both offensive and defensive line...the Mid Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Mid Valley selection on offense...Named to the Seattle Times all-state team and the East-West team...Served as team captain and was named the team’s most valuable player...Also won the P.A.S.E. (Positive, Attitude, Special Effort) award...Finished senior season with 51 tackles and eight sacks...A three-sport athlete, earning letters in football three times, basketball and track twice...High school coach was Tom Moore.

Daren Heerspink - OT Portland State

6-5, 310

Ran a 5.32 40-yard dash. Heerspink is seen as a utility player on the offensive line. At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, he’s capable of playing either tackle or guard at the professional level. Simmons projects as an outside linebacker and special teams player.

Kelly Poppinga - LB,  Brigham Young

6-2, 210 lbs

Overview Kelly was an all-state high school football player 3 consecutive years prior to enrolling at Utah State. Played sparingly at State in 2003, before going on an LDS Mission for 2 years. Transferred to BYU in 2005, which was redshirted. As a Junior in 2006, saw limited action in 13 games for a BYU Defense ranked 4th Nationally. Started in 2007 and has grown exponentially. Brother Brady plays for Green Bay and has similar attributes. Strengths Mature, dedicated and savvy. Plays with a sense of calmness prior to the snap but is very agressive in pursuit of the ball. Can drop back in coverage but must learn to rotate hips better while working the seam. Weaknesses Has a tendency to over pursue and take bad angles due to aggressive style of play. Also likes to tackles high which he'll have to change technique a little at the next level. Must get stronger from the waist down and learn to keep the play in front of him. Projection Could go as high as the 5th Round or as late as Round 7 due to weak LB class.

Matt Mulligan - TE Maine

6-5, 251 lbs.

Mulligan is known for his blocking and because of that, he should find his way onto a NFL roster. He doesn't have great speed (4.89 in the 40-yard dash) but Mulligan makes his living as a brusing blocker in the running game. Sounds like the kind  of guy the Patriots may take a look at as a FA.

Mulligan, who is 6-5, 251-pounds, had 13 catches for 157 yards with two touchdowns in 11 games this season. He helped block for a rushing attack that compiled 2,177 yards at 4.2 yards per carry. **

Dan Carpenter - K,  Montana

6-2, 210 lbs

Made 19 of 23 FGs his senior season. In the last 2 seasons Carpenter made 81% of his FGs (43 of 53).

 Carpenter, a teammate of Dolphins sixth-round pick, running back Lex Hilliard, told the Helena (Mont.) Independent Record that Dolphins assistant special teams coach Steve Hoffman worked him out last week. He will compete with Dave Rayner and incumbent kicker Jay Feely. **

Davone Bess -  WR, Hawaii

5-9 , 194 lbs ....40- Time: 4.69

Strengths:

Adequate size and bulk...Very good hands.. Is more quick than fast... An excellent rounte runner..Agile with good change of direction...Elusive with good vison, runs well afet the catch...Nice instincts and awareness..Lots of experience..Tough and fearless..Offers some return potential..Very porductive.

Weaknesses:

Doesn't have very good timed speed...Not a big play threat and won't stretch the field vertically...Is not very physical....Sub par blocker...Will have to adjust to a pro style offense..SOme character concerns..Upside mighte be limited at the next level.

 Bess, a former teammate of Dolphins center Samson Satele and fullback Reagan Mauia, had 106 catches for 1,266 yards and 12 touchdowns last season with Colt Brennan as his quarterback. **

Jayson Foster. - QB,  Georgia Southern

5-9, 164 lbs

Freshman season

Foster was named ‘Freshman of the Year’ by the Southern Conference head coaches. He played in all 12 games starting three times at wide receiver. He was the only eagle to ever score a touchdown five different ways: rushing, passing, receiving, punt return and kickoff return. [3]

Sophmore Season

During his Sophomore year, as starting quarterback, Foster set a conference record rushing for a touchdown in all 12 games, the only player in I-AA to accomplish that feat. He rushed for 1,481 yards which was the third-most rushing yards by a quarterback in NCAA I-FCS history. He led the Eagle offense to its fifth straight I-FCS rushing title, averaging 387 yards on the ground and the team ranked sixth nationally in scoring offense (38 ppg) and eighth in passing efficiency and total offense. Individually, he ranked 10th in rushing (123.4 ypg), 55th in total offense, third in scoring (126 points) and 34th in all-purpose yards.

Junior season

During his junior year, former Coach Brian VanGorder switched Foster from quarterback to wide receiver. Nevertheless, Foster was named First Team All-SoCon (wide receiver by the coaches, return specialist by the media association)and Second Team All-SoCon (return specialist as voted by the coaches). He became the only player in school history with at least an 80-yard rush, reception, punt return and kickoff return. [4]

Senior season

During his senior year, Foster retook the helm at quarterback and led his Eagles to a 7-4 mark and captured the 2007 Walter Payton Award. He was also named the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Foster compiled a school record 3,047 yards of total offense, breaking that of College Football Hall of Famer Tracy Ham. [5] Foster also ranked second nationally in rushing yards per game (167.6). [

Foster told the Savannah Morning News that Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells called him about 20 minutes after the draft. He said the Dolphins will try to convert him into a receiver. **

Rolly Lumbala - RB,  Idaho

6-2, 241lbs

Signed with Idaho in February and immediately earned playing time as a true freshman runningback. He played in all 12 games and started twice, gaining 614 yards on 141 carries with 6 TDs. His best game was 125 yards on 22 carries against Louisiana-Lafayette. Was the battering ram in a potent 1-2 punch out of the Vandal backfield, splitting time with classmate Jayson Bird.

Lumbala is another versatile back who can play RB, FB, H-back, or tight end. In the NFL, his best position will be at FB, where he'd be a solid lead blocker. He can play special teams as well.

Scorpio Babers - CB Sam-Houston St.

5-11, 191 lbs

NFL Pro day workout:

40-4.36 & 4.37
Vertical-33
Broad Jump-10'4"
Was worked out by the Jags defensive backs coach.

** = Paragraph came from Harvey Fialkov | Sun-Sentinel.com