WitP: Ikaika Alama-Francis Update (w/UPDATES)

Thanks to jkk808 for pointing out these tweets from Sun-Sentinel reporter Omar Kelly, who covers the Dolphins. Kelly writes that Ikaika Alama-Francis has been practicing at linebacker.

Ikaika Alama-Francis is being worked as a SLB, not a DE. He was paired on the second team with Charlie Anderson.

And Kelly was impressed with what he saw:

RT @padre35: How did Ikaika Francis look at OLB? » WAY MORE ATHLETIC than I initially thought. Covered TEs fairly well.

UPDATE (7/31/10): Looks like Ikaika was practicing with the first team today. Cool.

Ikaika Alama-Francis is still working as an OLBer and it appears he's running with the first team, paired with Cameron Wake.

Ikaika Alama Francis is even doing position drills with the outside linebackers. Looks like this position switch is legit.

UPDATE: Kelly has an article about Ikaika's position switch.

In two days, Ikaika Alama-Francis not only switched positions, transitioning from a defensive end to outside linebacker, but he also worked his way into the discussion of who could become a starter.

Alama-Francis, who carries 275 pounds on his 6-foot-5 frame after losing 15 pounds, replaced rookie Koa Misi as the starting strong side linebacker in Saturday morning's practice. By Saturday evening, Alama-Francis was back with the second team, but he had still completely leapfrogged Quentin Moses, Erik Walden and rookie Chris McCoy.

Coach Tony Sparano said Alama-Francis' position switch isn't just the team dipping their "toe in the water." It's serious and likely permanent based on how fluid Alama-Francis appears when dropping back into coverage to defend tight ends.