After a below-par rookie season, Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan has spent the majority of the offseason getting himself into the sort of shape that means he can have a bigger impact during his second season in the NFL. The Dolphins 2013 first round pick has returned to pre-season training sporting bigger shoulders, larger arms and an overall stronger look to his upper body in the hope of making more of an impression next season than he managed in the last one.

At the start of the Dolphins organized team activities, Jordan turned up with the look of a man who had spent a lot of time in the gym. Arguably, for the first time in his career, Jordan now has the look of a fully-fledged NFL defensive end, and Jordan has revealed he he is up to 265 pounds, a full 17 pounds heavier than he was when he was signed by the franchise last season. And the 24-year old has admitted he needed to work on his strength and conditioning after a disappointing rookie year in which the Dolphins again proved the Betfair odds right by not reaching the playoffs.

“I was too light to be out there trying to go against some of those offensive tackles. For me, it wasn’t mainly the weight, it was about getting stronger. I’m still young. I’m sure the weight is going to come. But in this league, it’s a grown man’s league. So I have to make sure I’m strong enough.”

Jordan failed to live up to the expectations that come with being drafted third overall by the Dolphins, as well as being tipped by Betfair punters to be a key part of last season’s plans. Despite being signed as a starter, Jordan was forced to play the majority of the season as a backup defensive end and special-teams player, finishing with just two sacks and 26 tackles in his debut season.

With Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake and last season’s sack leader Oliver Vernon ahead of him in the pecking order, Jordan knows he needs to be at his best to earn his place in this defensive line-up and convince Betfair fans that this could be the year the Dolphins return to the playoffs.