It's a busy week for all 32 NFL teams across the league. As the teams are making their respective roster cuts to set their 53-man rosters, the transactions come fast and furious. Several former Gamecocks, like cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr., received news of whether or not their NFL careers would be progressing.
The New England Patriots released former South Carolina cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr., as the team whittled down their roster before the Sept. 1 deadline. Although the cornerback had spent the last two seasons in New England, and even saw consistent playing time as a rookie in 2024, he was cut by head coach Mike Vrabel as the Patriots look to return to another Super Bowl in 2026.
But it didn't take Dial long for him to find a new home in the league. On Aug. 31, the cornerback was picked up by one of New England's biggest AFC rivals, the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins claimed Dial off of waivers:
The Dolphins claimed CB Marcellas Dial off waivers from the Patriots.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) August 31, 2026
Dial was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2024, as they picked him 180th overall in the sixth round. New England moving on from Dial was a bit of a surprise, as he played in all 17 games as a rookie in New England in 2024. He made one start, and finished with 12 tackles and a forced fumble, mostly seeing reps on special teams.
But during New England's training camp before the 2025 season, he unfortunately tore his ACL, causing him to miss the whole last year. He rehabbed away from the field, and was a full participant with New England in training camp after coming back from his setback.
But instead, the Patriots chose to go with Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones, as well as Karon Prunty, Charles Woods and Channing Canada at the position.
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In Miami, Dial joins a cornerback room consisting of starter Jason Marshall Jr. and backups A.J. Green III, Tucker Addington and Darrell Baker Jr., who is on the PUP list with a lower-body injury.
While there likely wasn't enough room in the Patriots' cornerback room to justify keeping Dial, he can get a chance to prove New England wrong when the two AFC rivals meet this season. The Dolphins host the Patriots on Nov. 1, and will go on the road to play New England, which has been designated as a FLEX game for Week 18.
Dial started his collegiate career at Georgia Military from 2019-2020, but transferred to South Carolina ahead of the 2021 season. Across his three seasons with the Gamecocks, he finished with 114 total tackles, including 83 solo stops. He added three interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble.
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