Miami Hurricanes Football Scandal: How Many Current Players Will Suffer?

The history books will read that on August 16, 2011, Hurricane Nevin came ashore in Coral Gables, Fla. and tore apart the University of Miami's once-proud football program, leaving it in shreds.

And that college football was never the same because of it.

But unlike most hurricanes, Nevin had a few precursors, much like a number of small earthquakes which would signify that a big earthquake is on the way.

In the last 18 months, the NCAA has investigated eight major college football programs for violations that now seem minute.

Auburn, Georgia Tech, LSU, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oregon and Southern California were all investigated for breaking rules that ranged from improper phone calls to a recruit, to practicing too much, to paying a player, to trading memorabilia for tattoos.

These were all violations that seemed disturbing enough at the time. Violations that would make a rival school's supporter wag a finger in disapproval while at the same time snickering in delight because a foe got caught cheating.

But what the Miami Hurricanes are accused of is totally different.

Hurricane Nevin is a Category 5 atrocity.

In a published report by Yahoo! Sports, former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro alleges that he provided 72 Miami players with impermissible benefits over a period of eight years that ended in 2010 only because he was arrested and imprisoned for a $900 million Ponzi scheme.

The benefits that Shapiro named in the Yahoo! Sports' report were "cash, prostitutes, entertainment in his multimillion-dollar homes and yacht, paid trips to high-end restaurants and nightclubs, jewelry, bounties for on-field play (including bounties for injuring opposing players), travel and, on one occasion, an abortion."

Following is a list of the current Miami football players who are at the greatest risk of being swept out to sea because of Nevin. Players that are likely to face severe punishment when the NCAA finishes their investigation into the alleged infractions.

Jacory Harris

A South Florida native, quarterback Jacory Harris of Miami-Northwestern High School was rated the sixth-best quarterback prospect in the country by Rivals.com when he committed to Miami in 2007.

Harris has had an up-and-down career for the Hurricanes and is heading into his senior season in a battle for the starting quarterback job with Stephen Morris. Last season Harris threw for 1,793 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Harris' best season at Miami was in 2009 when he threw for 3,164 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Harris is one of the 72 players in the Yahoo! Sports report.

Ray-Ray Armstrong

Ray-Ray Armstrong, the 6'4", 215-pound junior out of Seminole High School in Sanford, Fla., is heading into the 2011 season as the Hurricanes' starting strong safety.

Last season, Armstrong recorded 79 tackles and three interceptions. In the season-opener against Florida A&M, he returned an interception 22 for yards and a touchdown.

This offseason, Armstrong was named to the watch lists for the Jim Thorpe Award, Bronko Nagurski Award and Chuck Bednarik award.

Armstrong is one of the 72 players in the Yahoo! Sports report.

Travis Benjamin

A starting wide receiver out of Glades Central High School in Belle Glades, Fla., Travis Benjamin was second on the team last season in receptions (43) and receiving yards (793). He led the team in punt returns and punt return yardage.

Coming out of high school Benjamin was a Palm Beach Post two-time All-Palm Beach County selection. As a junior he helped lead Glades Central to a state championship. As a senior he caught 40 passes for 655 yards and eight touchdowns.

Benjamin is one of the 72 players in the Yahoo! Sports report.

Sean Spence

Another Miami-Northwestern High School product, Sean Spence was named co-MVP for the Hurricanes in 2010. The senior linebacker was one of seven players that started all 13 games.

Spence's 111 tackles ranked second on the team and fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He was also named an All-ACC second team selection.

In 2008, Spence was named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Spence is one of the 72 players in the Yahoo! Sports report.

Marcus Forston

Yet another Miami-Northwestern High School product, the 6'3", 300-pound Marcus Forston is heading into his junior season as one of the Hurricanes starting defensive tackles.

In 2010, Forston's 12 tackles for a loss ranked second on the team. He registered three quarterback sacks and one interception while starting in 12 games.

In 2008, Forston was named to the Rivals.com Freshman All-America first team.

Forston is one of the 72 players in the Yahoo! Sports report.

Vaughn Telemaque

Vaughn Telemaque is heading into the 2011 season as the Hurricanes' starting free safety.

The 6'2", 200-pound junior out of Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, Calif. had a successful 2010 campaign. Starting in all 13 games, Telemaque led the team with three fumble recoveries, was tied for the team lead with three interceptions and was fourth on the team with 59 tackles.

Coming out of Long Beach Poly, Telemaque was selected EA Sports All-America second team.

Telemaque is one of the 72 players in the Yahoo! Sports report.

Dyron Dye

Another Seminole High School product, Dyron Dye is heading into 2011 after playing in six games on the defensive line in 2010.

The redshirt sophomore who stands at 6'5" and 275 pounds was ranked No. 4 by Rivals.com in the "Quickest First Step" category coming out of high school.

Dye is one of the 72 players in the Yahoo! Sports report.

Aldarius Johnson

Our fourth and final Miami-Northwestern High School product, Aldarius Johnson was considered "one of the most talented wide receivers to come out of Florida in many years" by Scout.com after his high school career.

Last season for the Hurricanes, Johnson had 15 receptions for 157 yards, fourth most on the team. In 2009, he registered 16 receptions for 276 yards, and as a freshman in 2008 he had 31 receptions for 332 yards.

Johnson is one of the 72 players in the Yahoo! Sports report.

Olivier Vernon

Olivier Vernon, a junior defensive lineman out of American High School in Hialeah, Fla., played in all 13 games for the Hurricanes last season and started in 11 of them.

His six quarterback sacks ranked second on the team and 11th in the ACC.

As a true freshman in 2009, Vernon was one of three players to play in 10 or more games for the Hurricanes.

Vernon was ranked the ninth best defensive end prospect in the country by Rivals.com and Scout.com coming out of high school.

Vernon is one of the 72 players in the Yahoo! Sports report.