Miami Hurricanes Football: Where Are They Now? Edgerrin James

The media has called Miami "Quarterback U" because of great college quarterbacks such as Bernie Kosar, Vinnie Testarverde, Jim Kelly, Gino Toretta, Ken Dorsey, Craig Erickson and Steve Walsh.

The Hurricane running backs have had a better NFL career.

Miami has produced great talents such as Willis McGahee, Frank Gore, Lamar Miller, Melvin Bratton, Ottis Anderson, Alonzo Highsmith and Clinton Portis, to name a few.

The one that sticks out the most to me was the greatest running back in Hurricanes history, Edgerrin James.

James played high school football for the Immokalee Indians near Naples, Fla. He became a star throughout his high school career and was honored as a Parade All-American his senior season.

Although he had the skills to play at any major college he wanted, there was limited contact with James because of his poor grades and test scores.

That didn't stop Butch Davis from wanting him to become a Hurricane. When James finally obtained a qualifying ACT score, down to Coral Gables he went.

During his freshman year at Miami, James carried the ball just 71 times for 446 yards.

The very next year, James got the starting nod and ran for over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns, but the Hurricanes struggled, going 5-6.

His junior campaign was his best and his last, rushing for 1,416 yards and 17 touchdowns.

James ended his career ranked second in school history in rushing yards (2,960) and rushing touchdowns (32).

After his successful career at Miami, James got drafted in the first round (4th pick overall) by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft.

He would go on to become one of the best running backs that ever played in the NFL.

James ran for 12,246 yards in his 11-year NFL career, 11th all time. He ended with 80 career rushing touchdowns, 18th all time.

He won the Rookie of the Year award, was voted to four Pro Bowls and made the All-Pro team four times.

James also lead the league in rushing twice in his career.

After a seven-year stint with Indianapolis, James played for two other teams, Arizona and Seattle.

The Seahawks would cut James during the 2009 season, and he never re-signed with another team.

On July 26, 2011, James would officially retire from the NFL.

Edgerrin, with cousin Javarris, runs a youth football camp in his home city of Immokalee. They started the camp in 2009, and it is getting bigger every year.

At the camp, the younger kids are able to learn basic football skills while the high school kids get a peek at a mini-combine that tests the skills of each player.

James has stated that he is done with football and just wants to be a fan, something we all were while we watched James dominate at Miami and in the NFL.

(This is a part of my "Miami Hurricanes: Where are they now?" weekly series that consists of my personal favorite Hurricanes since 1984 when I first started watching Miami. This will continue during the offseason.)