Without a question, Michael Irvin’s bravado and theatrics on the field translated into incredible offensive stats, which is why I consider him the best Miami Hurricane player of all time. The fact that he also turned into a three-time NFL wide receiver champion isn’t hurt either.
I’ve always believed that if you can play football at a high level while being one-third of a social experiment, you have accomplished something amazing. That idea was brought to life by George Bush when he said of Irvin, “He’s a football player who makes more plays than most players their size.”
Irvin had an immediate impact for the Hurricanes after they picked him in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft. As a freshman in 1987, he helped lead Miami to its first undefeated regular season (11-0) and first No. 1 ranking. He finished with 51 catches for 815 yards and nine touchdowns and was voted co-Most Valuable Player of the Fiesta Bowl, where the Hurricanes lost to Nebraska 21-16.
As a sophomore in 1988, Irvin only increased his production with 73 catches for 1,341 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was selected to the All-American team and won the Walter Camp Award as the top player in college football.
Charlie Ward is the best player in Florida State history, not because of his statistics, but because of his performance on the field. The All-American and two-time NFL Draft choice played all positions but center and left guard and was a starter at every position but quarterback for the Seminoles from 1995 to 1998.
Ward is the only FSU player who has been voted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He’s also the only player in school history to be named a first-team All-American three times. As a senior in 1998, he was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
During his four years at Florida State, Ward started 46 games and appeared in 47 more. He finished with 511 tackles and 11 interceptions. After leaving college football after his junior season, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played eight seasons in the NFL, finishing with 156 tackles and seven interceptions.
After ending his career as a professional athlete, Ward returned to Florida State in 2009 as an assistant coach on Charlie Ward’s coaching staff. He’s helped recruit players to Florida State and served as a student assistant coach during Florida State’s spring practices in 2010 and 2011.
From 1985 through 1987, Mira Jr. led the Hurricanes in tackles three years in a row. And they were some of the top UM defensive performances in school history. Mira Jr. has 490 career tackles, which ranks him second all-time. He was a key element of Miami’s National Championship defense in 1987. Vernon Carey, 97.
Football Roster Number, Name, Position, Height, and Weight Mike Harley 5-11 182 lbs. Wide Receiver 4 Jaylan Knighton (5-10, 190 lbs.) Running Back Keontra Smith, 5-11, 205 lbs. , is the fourth striker on the team. 5 Amari Carter Security 6-2, 202 pounds
List Guidelines Vote for the best Miami Hurricanes to ever play on the gridiron. Vote only on each player’s time at the University of Miami. The University of Miami (or, THE U!) Hurricanes are one of the most legendary programs in college football history. They have won 12 national championships — more than any other program — and they have had many great players over the years.
Here are the current rules for this list:
Players must be graduates of Miami to be considered.
Only their career statistics will be used during the voting process.
One player per school is allowed. If several players from the same team reach the threshold set by vote totals, then all of them will make the list.
These lists are not voted on or selected by anyone associated with the University of Miami or Coral Gables. These lists are provided as a resource for fans to learn more about some of the greatest Hurricanes ever.
Please note that this list is not intended to be an all-time team or all-city team. It is simply a list of the top 10 players according to vote totals.
If you have any questions about this list, please email us at [email protected]
Dorsey and Johnson were selected co-Most Valuable Players in the Rose Bowl. Some analysts and historians believe the 2001 Miami Hurricanes to be the greatest team in college football history. The Hurricanes scored 512 points (42.6 points per game) while allowing only 117. (9.75 points allowed per game).
They were invited to the Rose Bowl, which functioned as the BCS National Championship Game, and defeated Nebraska 37-14 to capture the school’s fifth national title. Rivals.com selected the 2001 Miami Hurricanes the best team in the first decade of the twenty-first century.
During the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season, the University of Miami’s football team was known as the Miami Hurricanes. It was the 76th season of football for the Hurricanes, and their 11th as a member of the Big East Conference. The Hurricanes, headed by first-year head coach Larry Coker, played their home games in the Orange Bowl.
Meanwhile, Miami’s suffocating defense shut down Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch and the Huskers’ famous option attack, reducing Nebraska to 200 yards less than its season average. Dorsey and Johnson were selected co-Most Valuable Players in the Rose Bowl.
Hudson, a former Miami Edison High track standout, juggled the ball and dashed 89 yards for the clinching touchdown as time expired. Eddie Dunn, a running back who was captain of the Hurricanes in 1938, is widely regarded as the team’s first football hero. He established several game, single-season, and career marks for running, scoring, and punt returns. Before Hudson, no Miami player had ever scored a touchdown from beyond 50 yards out.
The Canes’ first victory came on November 17, 1935, when they beat Florida A&M 33-0 in Coral Gables. The only other win during that early season was over Stetson College (now known as the University of Tampa). Barry Alvarez, who played quarterback for Miami from 1976 to 1979, was the star of that game. He passed for two touchdowns and ran for another one in a 35-7 win.
Miami didn’t have much success until after World War II when they began competing at the college level. The Hurricanes won or shared the conference title seven times between 1946 and 1952. They also made four appearances in the Orange Bowl. The team’s best year was 1948 when they went 9-1-1 and lost only to Army in the Armed Forces Classic. Future NFL players Charlie Bauman, Mel Hein, and Ed Newman were part of that squad.
After losing their last three games in 1953, the Hurricanes haven’t been able to bounce back yet.
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