Miami Football: Hurricanes All-Time Offensive Unit

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The Miami Hurricanes have always been known to not only send their players to the NFL but also send players that thrive among the NFL talent.

The Hurricanes deliver year-in and year-out with NFL talent and throughout history have always been able to produce superior talent.

The Hurricanes impact changed the way the college game was played and because of that have changed the level of talent in the NFL.

With so many players to choose from, what is the Hurricanes best offense unit? Let's list them right here, right now.

Tackle: Bryant McKinnie

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Start with the big boys and in particular Bryant McKinnie.

McKinnie was part of the Hurricane squad when they absolutely wrecked the college ranks, especially in 2001.

McKinnie was the blind side blocker for Ken Dorsey. 

McKinnie still plays in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens and ranks among the NFL's elite tackles in the league. 

McKinnie was a Pro Bowl selection in 2009 when he played with the Vikings alongside Steve Hutchinson.

 

Honorable Mention: Leon Searcy

Guard: Vernon Carey

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Vernon Carey is Miami born and bred and hasn't left since his youth.

He played for the Hurricanes from 2000 to 2003 after being redshirted in 1999.

When on the Hurricane squad, he was a two-time second-team All-Big East and a third-team AP All-American. He also led the Hurricanes in knockdowns and pancake blocks in his junior and senior year.

He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2004 and has stayed with them ever since. He is currently starting for the Phins, though that might be a bad thing with their current standing.

 

Honorable Mention: Martin Bibla

Center: Jim Otto

You might have to think back a while for this one, but Jim Otto was one of the best centers to ever play in the college ranks.

Otto played for the Hurricanes before moving on to play with the Oakland Raiders for 14 seasons.

Otto's resume is filled with All-Star, Pro Bowl, and many more awards.

He is a nine-time AFL All-Star selection, three-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time All-Pro selection, ten-time All-AFL selection and last but not least, part of the AFL All-Time team.

Otto was a part of the Raiders AFL/AFC championship team in 1967. 

Guard: Dennis Harrah

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Dennis Harrah played for the Hurricanes where he received a second-team All-America pick as a senior with the Canes.

He moved on to play with the Los Angeles Rams where he had quite the NFL career.

Coming in to the NFL with a lot of potential (drafted 11th overall), Harrah was a six-time Pro-Bowler and a seven-time All-Pro selection during his time with the Rams.

He played 13 seasons win the NFL and was part of the Los Angeles Rams 40th Anniversary Team. 

Tackle: Eric Winston

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Eric Winston is a still a decently young player in the NFL.

He played with the Hurricanes until 2006 when he was drafted in the third round by the Houston Texans.

Since being drafted, Winston has started 71 of his 76 career games and has been a solid force for the Texans.

He is a very big factor in why the Texans have a great run game and Winston has a decent amount of years left in his tank.

Tight End: Jeremy Shockey

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The Miami Hurricanes have had many good tight ends play big in the NFL but none bigger than Jeremy Shockey.

Even though he is not the most consistent performer in the NFL he helped the New York Giants make it to the playoffs four times. He was a part of the the team when they won Super Bowl XLII but was injured when they won it.  He then moved on to the Saints where he won another Super Bowl.

Shockey is a four-time Pro-Bowl selection, an All-Pro Selection, and the NFL Rookie of the Year in 2002.

 

Honorable Mention: Kellen Winslow Jr., Bubba Franks, Greg Olsen 

Wide Receiver: Andre Johnson

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Andre Johnson is the most elite wide receiver in the NFL.

He played for the 2001 Hurricane team that destroyed the college ranks and won the National Championship. 

He also helped the Canes win the 2002 Rose Bowl. 

Johnson made an immediate impact in the NFL after being drafted third overall by the Texans.

Johnson's NFL career is still not close to finishing and he already has been a five-time Pro Bowl selection, four-time All-Pro selection, and three-time NFL Alumni Wide Receiver of the Year.

He also shows no signs of stopping.

As of this season, Johnson ranks first all-time in NFL history for receiving yards per game with 80.7. 

He is not only the best wide receiver to come out of The U, but arguably the best wideout to play in the NFL.

 

Honorable Mention: Santana Moss, Sinorice Moss, Devin Hester

Wide Receiver: Michael Irvin

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He nicknamed himself "The Playmaker" and was exactly that.

Michael Irvin played for the Hurricanes before being drafted in 1988 by the Dallas Cowboys where he had a storied career.

He is a three-time Super Bowl Champion, five-time Pro Bowl selection, two-time Second-Team All-Pro selection, and one-time First-Team All-Pro Selection.

Being a part of "The Triplets" with Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman, he had a very good NFL career that led him to be selected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

 

Honorable Mention: Reggie Wayne, Leonard Hankerson, Roscoe Parrish

Running Back: Edgerrin James

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Edgerrin James was one of the best players to come out of the U in the history of the college.

James ranks second all-time in Hurricanes history in rushing yards. He also ranks first in the school's history with 14 100-plus yard rushing games.

He was drafted fourth overall in 1999 by the Indianapolis Colts where he had a very good career.

He was the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, PFWA Offensive Rookie of the Year, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, a four-time All-Pro selection, a member of the 10,000 Yard Rushing Club, and the 11th-leading rusher of All-TIme.

During his first two seasons he made an immediate impact and led the league in rushing both years.

 

Honorable Mention: Clinton Portis, Najeh Davenport, Brian Blades

Running Back: Willis McGahee

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Willis McGahee was a beast in college when he played for the Canes.

He broke school season records by rushing for 1,753 yards with 28 touchdowns in 2002.

McGahee ran for 100 yards 10 times in 2002, breaking Ottis Anderson's record. He also gained 2,108 all-purpose yards in the same year which stands as The U's single-season record.

He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in 2002 but finished fourth. His stock dropped because of a nasty injury that became a YouTube sensation.

In the NFL he won the AP and PFWA NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2004, and a one-time Pro Bowl Selection.

He is currently off to a great year with the Denver Broncos.

 

Honorable Mention: Ottis Anderson, Frank Gore, Chuck Foreman

Quarterback: Vinny Testaverde

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Vinny Testaverde was arguably the best quarterback to play for the Miami Hurricanes.

During his time there, Testaverde set the Hurricanes' record for career touchdown passes with 48.

Vinny went on to win the Heisman Trophy in 1986. He also won the Davey O'Brien Award, the Walter Camp Award, the Maxwell Award and the UPI Player of the Year all in 1986.

He was drafted in 1987 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers first overall and has played for a variety of different teams in his NFL Career.

He holds the NFL all-time record for consecutive seasons with a touchdown pass with 21. Unfortunately it is overshadowed by his record for most losses as a starting quarterback with 123.

 

Honorable Mention: Jim Kelly, Ken Dorsey, Brock Berlin, Gino Toretta