A year after being waived by the Miami Dolphins, Kalispell native and former University of Montana star Lex Hilliard is on a regular season NFL roster. The Dolphins decided to keep Hilliard on the 53-man roster as a fourth-string running back. Even though most NFL teams only keep three backs, Dolphins management liked Hilliard’s size and energy on special teams. As the fourth-string back, Hilliard isn’t expected to get many carries, so he will likely have to make the most of his opportunities on special teams.
During the preseason, Hilliard rushed for a team-high 165 yards, highlighted by a 39-yard touchdown run against Carolina Aug. 22. Following that run, Hilliard became a fan favorite and somewhat of a media darling down in South Florida. Congrats, Lex.