Aug 20 (Reuters) - Ryan Tannehill will become the first
rookie quarterback ever to start for the Miami Dolphins in a
regular season opener when he takes to the field against the
Houston Texans on Sept. 9, the team said on Monday.
The 24-year-old, taken eighth overall by Miami in April's
National Football League (NFL) draft, edged out veteran starter
Matt Moore for the role, Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin told
reporters.
"After a thorough evaluation of the quarterback position we
have come to the decision that Ryan Tannehill is our starting
quarterback," Philbin said. "It was a close competition, but in
the end we feel that this is the best decision for our football
team at the present time."
Moore ended last season as Miami's starter, leading the
Dolphins to a 6-3 finish down the stretch.
Tannehill, who played college football at Texas A&M, has
completed 25 of 44 passes for 267 yards and one touchdown in his
two preseason games for Miami, including his first start last
Friday against the Carolina Panthers.
He became the first quarterback to be selected by the
Dolphins in the first round of the NFL draft since Pro Football
Hall of Famer Dan Marino in 1983, and will be Miami's 17th
starting quarterback since Marino retired following the 1999
season.
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by
Frank Pingue)