Top 5 Miami Hurricane Football Players of All Time
#5 Sean Taylor
• Interceptions: 14
• 36 Return yards
• Big East Defensive Player of the Year - 2003
• Consensus All-American
• Sean Taylor was anything but prototypical. His physical attributes changed the way spectators and coaches analyze safeties at all levels. Taylor established a new 21st century prototype for the safety position. His freakish combination of size, speed, and strength, made his style of play more akin to a blazing fast inside linebacker than free safety.
#4 Warren Sapp
• National Defensive Player of the Year - 1994
• Big East Defensive Player of the Year - 1994
• Brinko Nagurski Award - 1994
• Consensus All-American
• It is not hyperbole to state Warren Sapp was the largest fastest human on earth. Sapp was nearly 350 pounds with the speed of a 200 pound linebacker. At the nose guard position, Sapp was frequently in the backfield, as centers and guard failed to obstruct his path at the line of scrimmage. College football has seen many big men with speed since Sapp, some faster, but he was the original, and no Hurricane defensive lineman in history, was better.
#3 Edgerrin James
• Rushing Attempts: 497
• Rushing Yards: 2,960
• Rushing TD: 32
• Receptions: 42
• Receiving Yards: 595
• Before there was Lamar Miller, Willis McGahee, Frank Gore, or Clinton Portis, there was Edgerrin James. James stands alone atop The U's greatest running back list. He was the most versatile back in college football.
#2 Michael Irvin
Receptions: 143
Receiving Yards: 2,423
Receiving TD: 26
• Irvin backed up his bluster with elite play. Though Irvin's days at The U may be remembered for his showmanship, he was first and foremost an unstoppable receiver.
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#1 Ed Reed
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• Interceptions: 21
• Interception Return Yards: 389
• Big East Defensive Player of the Year - 2001
• Two-time consensus All-American
Honorable Mention
• Ray Lewis
• Bernie Kosar
• Devin Hester
