Iowa football is known for developing players. 

Those players commit to the Hawkeyes knowing that they probably won't receive playing time right away, but the chance to learn and grow from the veteran players and an experienced coaching staff is too good to pass up. 

That's one half of the answer for commits, but Iowa also offers some recruits the flexibility of staying in-state or very close to home. 

Both of these statements fit former defensive end Max Llewellyn perfectly. 

Llewellyn was a standout football player at Urbandale High School - just 90 minutes away from Iowa City - and had to wait his turn to be on the field in big moments. 

But as they always say, "all things come to those who wait." Llewellyn took full advantage of his opportunity, and his prize was the fulfillment of every football player's dream - getting selected in the NFL Draft. 

The Miami Dolphins selected Llewellyn with the 238th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. It's common for seventh round picks to struggle to earn a spot on the roster, but it's not out of the question for Llewellyn. 

Llewellyn didn't see regular playing time until his junior season of 2024, but that didn't stop him from contributing to Phil Parker's strong defense. Llewellyn posted 22 tackles and 5.5 sacks, but the play that defined his season (and maybe his Iowa career) came in the regular season finale against rival Nebraska. 

Tied 10-10 late in the fourth quarter during one of the coldest games in Kinnick Stadium history, Llewellyn stripped the ball away from Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola in the waning seconds to give the Hawkeyes a chance to win the game with a field goal. Drew Stevens did just that, and Llewellyn was the hero. 

Llewellyn continued that momentum into his senior season, where he finally earned the elusive starting role. He recorded 26 tackles and raised his total sacks to 6.5, earning honorable All-Big Ten honors for his performance. 

But how does Llewellyn fit with the Dolphins? 

Miami features a new head coach in Jeff Hafley, but the change could be beneficial for Llewellyn's chances. Previous coach Mike McDaniel's flashy offense flamed out in 2025, so the Dolphins are hoping Hafley's defensive-first style will lead to improved results. 

Miami's defensive line features a lot of young players, but this unit, anchored by Zach Sieler and Chop Robinson, already seems to have pieces in place. That probably doesn't bode well for Llewellyn's chances to see the field, but with the Dolphins desperate to rebuild and earn high draft picks, it wouldn't hurt to give him a chance.

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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]