Ranking the 44 NFL Players from the University of Miami

The University of Miami is known for producing excellent professional football players. There are currently 44 players in the NFL who were brought up at the "U."

One NFL team has quite a collection of Miami alumni. The Houston Texans lead the league with six players from the "U."

Believe it or not, there are nine NFL teams that don't have a Miami product on their roster: the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams.

If not for the Cowboys, Jets and Steelers, I'd say you probably would like to have a player from the "U" on your team. All kidding aside, there are some Hall-of-Famers on this list, and two players are among the best of all time at their respective positions.

Please note: This is a list based on career accomplishments, and should not be mistaken for, "who is the best right now."

Honorable Mentions

There are 10 players who have not been able to produce on the football field due to either a limited role or injury. I would like to acknowledge their contributions while abstaining from ranking them on this list.

Making an NFL roster is an achievement of its own, and these players deserve plenty of credit for making it into this league.

In no particular order:

• Brett Romberg, Atlanta Falcons second-string center, has never been a full-time starter.
• Richard Gordon, Oakland Raiders rookie reserve tight end, one catch for two yards.  
• Leonard Hankerson, Washington Redskins rookie wide receiver, out for season with torn labrum in his right hip, 13 catches for 163 yards. 
• Rashad Butler, Houston Texans career reserve/backup offensive tackle.
• Jason Fox, Detroit Lions second-year reserve offensive tackle.
• Allen Bailey, Kansas City Chiefs rookie defensive end, six tackles in a limited role.
• Antonio Dixon, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle, injured reserve with torn triceps injury, four tackles.
• Spencer Adkins, Atlanta Falcons second-string outside linebacker, career backup with 12 tackles
• Darryl Sharpton, Houston Texans second-year linebacker, out for year with torn quad tendon,  46 tackles, one sack in limited action for young career.
• Bruce Johnson, New York Giants career backup defensive back, out in 2011 with ruptured Achilles tendon.
• Brandon Harris, Houston Texans rookie cornerback, inactive in 9/13 games this season.
• Demarcus Van Dyke, Oakland Raiders rookie cornerback, limited action (four starts) 12 tackles, one interception

34. Atlanta Falcons: Matt Bosher

I loath to put a punter on any kind of list to start with, but Matt Bosher makes my case for me. Even though he plays inside a domed stadium more often than not, Bosher has managed to rank second-to-last in the NFL, averaging only 41.6 yards per punt. 

The worst part about it is that Bosher was able to perform substantially better just one year before for the University of Miami, averaging 44 yards a punt as a senior.

The Falcons spent a sixth-round pick on Bosher in the 2010 NFL draft, which is actually high for a punter. He needs to get back on track or he'll find himself out of a job.

33. Tennessee Titans: Colin McCarthy

Colin McCarthy has recently been inserted into the starting lineup for the Tennessee Titans, and the rookie linebacker has secured the job with some fine performances including his Week 13 game against the Buffalo Bills, which garnered him two awards: AFC Defensive Player of the Week and Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week.

In this, his rookie season, McCarthy has produced 48 tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception.

Pretty good for a player the Titans drafted in the fourth round (109 overall). The future looks bright for McCarthy and the Titans.

32. Denver Broncos: Orlando Franklin

Orlando Franklin is a rookie right tackle for the Denver Broncos. Originally born in Jamaica, Franklin grew up in Canada before moving to Florida for his junior year of high school. 

He was highly touted coming out of both high school and college, and the Broncos selected him with their second-round pick (46th overall).

Franklin has started all 13 games this season, and he has helped the Broncos' running backs to their NFL-leading rushing attack.

31. Philadelphia Eagles: Antonio Dixon

Antonio Dixon is a remarkable young man who has risen out of the ashes of a broken childhood to find success in the NFL. 

Dixon grew up in homeless shelters in Miami and Atlanta. His mother was a single parent trying to raise five children because Dixon's father, Frazier Hawkins, was in prison for 17 years on drug trafficking charges. Dixon and his siblings also lived in foster care homes for a year when his mom succumbed to drugs herself.

High school football kept Dixon out of trouble and put him on the path to the NFL.

Dixon played all four years in college for Miami, but went undrafted in 2009. The Washington Redskins cut him at the end of training camp after signing him to a rookie free agent deal, and then the Philadelphia Eagles picked him up off of the waiver wire.

Dixon started coming into his own for the Eagles during their 2010 campaign before suffering a season-ending torn triceps injury.

His career stats:

• 49 tackles, three sacks, two passes defended

30. San Francisco 49ers: Tavares Gooden

Tavares Gooden is one of the most physically gifted linebackers in the NFL when it comes to ability, but he has been plagued by injuries for his entire career.

Gooden was a solid contributor in his true freshman year at Miami, but injuries to his shoulder kept him out of most of his sophomore and junior seasons. 

The Baltimore Ravens took a gamble by drafting the talented Gooden with their third-round pick of the 2008 NFL draft. Teams rated him high for talent, but his past injuries scared most teams off. 

The injury fears were valid, as Gooden missed most of the 2009 season. 

The San Francisco 49ers have since found Gooden a spot on their roster as a special teams ace.

His career statistics:

• 78 tackles, one forced fumble, one pass defended

29. Green Bay Packers: Sam Shields

Sam Shields was originally a wide receiver in high school, where he was a 4-star recruit for the Booker High School Tornados. He continued to play as a receiver through his junior year at Miami.

Shields switched to the defensive side of the ball in his senior year, and it seems as if he made the right choice. He was named Miami's most improved player in 2009.

The Green Bay Packers signed Shields as an undrafted free agent. In 2010, Shields started for the Packers in their nickel packages, and he has since become a starter opposite Charles Woodson.

Give general manager Ted Thompson credit for finding this diamond in the rough.

His career stats:

• 65 tackles, one forced fumble, five interceptions, 16 passes defended

28. New Orleans Saints: Jimmy Graham

Jimmy Graham is another former Miami Hurricane who has overcome a rough childhood to play in the NFL. Graham was placed in a group home at the age of 11 and was often beaten up and bullied. 

He was taken in by a local church youth counselor and turned things around when Rebecca Vinson took the young man into her home after he showed up looking for food at her church. It was through her sacrifice and dedication that Graham became able to focus on school and sports.

Graham played four years for Miami...on the men's basketball team.

It wasn't until Graham started taking graduate classes in his fifth year at Miami that he tried football. He played well enough to be drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft (95th overall).

Graham is now one of the best weapons at his position in the NFL. 

His career stats:

• 111 catches for 1,457 yards and 13 touchdowns

27. Cincinnati Bengals: Kelly Jennings

Kelly Jennings is a sixth-year cornerback who has made a living in the NFL as a backup, while filling in for starters when they were injured. You could call him a bust, as he was drafted in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft (31st overall) and has largely been a disappointment.

Still, he is helping the Cincinnati Bengals revive their franchise and is an active member of their feisty defense, which is ranked seventh in the NFL overall.

His career stats:

• 233 tackles, one sack, one forced fumbles, two interceptions, 51 passes defended

26. Buffalo Bills: Roscoe Parrish

Roscoe Parrish has spent most of the 2011 NFL season on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury in Week 2.

Parrish is better known for his abilities as a return specialist. He only totalled 81 catches in his career at Miami. 

He was drafted in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft (55th overall), largely due to an impressive showing in his 40-yard dash (4.37 at the combine). 

His career stats:

• Kick returning: 29 returns for 685 yards (23.6 average) 
• Punt returning: 135 returns for 1,622 yards (12 average) and three touchdowns
• Receiving: 134 catches for 1,502 yards (11.2 average) and seven touchdowns

25. Houston Texans: Chris Myers

Originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft (200th overall), Chris Myers has proven to be versatile and durable. 

Myers has been the starter for the Texans since the team did a sign-and-trade deal with the Broncos in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft. It has been a great deal for the Texans, as the team is among the best in the league at rushing (second place) and protecting the passer (eighth place).

24. New York Giants: Kenny Phillips

Kenny Phillips has been a stud safety since his high school days, when he was named the top safety prospect as a senior and was USA Today's Defensive Player of the Year. 

Phillips went on to have a stellar college career at Miami, making all-ACC first team honors two years in a row before declaring for the NFL draft to be held in 2008. The New York Giants ended up making Phillips a first-round choice that year (31st overall).

Phillips has been a good, if not great safety over the last four years for the Giants.

His career stats:

• 224 tackles, one forced fumble, six interceptions, 20 passes defended 

23. Arizona Cardinals: Calais Campbell

Calais Campbell has been a hot prospect since his high school days, when he was considered to be one of the best defensive ends in the country playing for South High School.

He was drafted out of the University of Miami in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft (50th overall) and has since burst onto the scene with authority, and he has been a constant high-level performer for the Arizona Cardinals ever since.

His career stats:

• 196 tackles, 20 sacks, three forced fumble, one interception

22. Houston Texans: Eric Winston

Eric Winston is another athlete who started out as a tight end before gaining weight and being converted into an NFL starting offensive tackle.

Winston was one of the top tight ends when he played for Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, Texas. He took those skills to Miami until they converted him in his sophomore year. 

He performed well enough to be considered one of the top tackles in the 2006 NFL draft, but a previous knee injury in Winston's junior season caused his stock to drop and he was taken in the third round by the Houston Texans. 

The concerns about Winston's knee turned out to be bogus, and he has started every game for the Texans since 2007.

21. Carolina Panthers: Jon Beason

Jon Beason was considered to be one of the best young linebackers in the NFL until a torn Achilles tendon forced the Panthers to place their young star on the injured reserve for the 2011 NFL season.

Beason was an exceptional athlete coming out of high school, where he played all over the football field (linebacker, safety and fullback), while also running track and playing on the basketball team for Chaminade Maddona College Prepatory.

He began at Miami as a fullback before being converted to middle linebacker as a redshirt freshman. He went on to star for the Hurricanes and was drafted in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft (25th overall) by the Carolina Panthers.

His career stats:

• 421 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, eight interceptions, 29 passes defended

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kellen Winslow II

Kellen Winslow II had some humongous shoes to fill as a kid growing up. After all, his father is Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow. 

The young Winslow didn't disappoint, as he quickly became a star for the University of Miami after Jeremy Shockey left for the pros in 2002. He won first-team All-American honors in both his sophomore and junior seasons for the Hurricanes.

The Cleveland Browns took a gamble when they drafted Winslow with the sixth overall pick of the 2004 NFL draft. It turned out to be a bad deal for the Browns, all things considered.

Winslow hasn't ever lived up to the hype, but he's been a starting tight end since he entered the NFL, and he continues to put up solid numbers for his new team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who acquired his services in a trade that cost them two draft picks (second and fifth-round picks).

His career stats:

420 catches for 4,680 yards and 23 touchdowns

19. Miami Dolphins: Vernon Carey

Vernon Carey was a highly recruited tackle coming out of high school, where he garnered USA Today and Parade All-American honors. He didn't allow a single sack during his last two years at Miami Northwestern High School.

Carey had a solid career at Miami, earning second-team All-Big East Conference and third-team All-American honors during his tenure with the school. His steady play was enough to convince the Miami Dolphins to grab him with the 19th overall pick of the 2004 NFL draft.

Carey has been a starter for the Dolphins ever since, and he has been one of the most dependable linemen in the NFL.

18. Chicago Bears: Brandon Meriweather

Brandon Meriweather had a tumultuous career at the University of Miami before making it to the NFL. He suffered injuries that kept him out of some action, but the real issues were due to his involvement in a stomping incident after a game against Florida International. He was ultimately suspended for his actions.

Meriweather was twice a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe award while attending Miami, and he played well enough to garner a first-round selection in the 2007 NFL draft by the New England Patriots.

Meriweather was named to both the 2009 and 2010 Pro Bowls, and he had a couple of fantastic seasons for the Patriots before being cut by the team in the 2011 preseason.

He has played a minor role for the Bears this year as a backup.

His career stats:

• 287 tackles, two sacks, five forced fumbles, 12 interceptions, 29 passes defended, two safeties, one touchdown

17. Washington Redskins: Rocky McIntosh

Rocky McIntosh had a stellar collegiate career at the University of Miami, where he played all four years. McIntosh was originally slated to attend Clemson University, but the NCAA started an investigation regarding improper benefits paid by a Clemson booster and he ended up going to Miami instead.

The Washington Redskins thought so much of McIntosh that they traded a sixth-round pick and a second-round pick to move up in the 2006 NFL draft to select him with the 35th overall pick.

McIntosh hasn't failed to live up to their hopes, and he has been a solid starter for the Redskins since his rookie season.

His career stats:

• 468 tackles, eight sacks, eight forced fumbles, three interceptions, 18 passes defended

16. Carolina Panthers: Greg Olsen

Greg Olsen was highly recruited coming out of high school, where he was one of USA Today's first-team All-Americans for Wayne Hills High School.

Olsen originally chose to go to Notre Dame but transferred to the University of Miami during his freshman year. He had a solid career at Miami and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft.

Olsen wasn't suitable for the Bears after Mike Martz was brought in to be the team's new offensive coordinator in 2010, and he was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a third-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft. 

His career statistics:

• 237 catches for 2,506 yards and 25 touchdowns

15. Baltimore Ravens: Bryant McKinnie

Bryant McKinnie is better known for his off-field issues than his solid play on the field, which is a shame. The 10th-year veteran has been a starting tackle in the NFL since he came into the league in 2002. 

McKinnie started out in junior college playing the offensive line for Lackawanna College after gaining 70 pounds. He had previously played on the defensive line in high school.

From there, he earned a scholarship to play for Miami, where he started every game as a junior and senior. He was an extraordinary pass blocker and didn't give up a single sack at his time at Miami.

He was the seventh overall pick of the 2002 NFL draft for the Minnesota Vikings. 

McKinnie was selected to the 2009 Pro Bowl but was not allowed to play in the game because he missed three of the four practices as well as the team photo. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time controversy surrounded him. He has been arrested three times since becoming a pro.

This season has McKinnie on a solid team, and the veteran is helping the Ravens make a strong playoff push.

14. New York Giants: Antrel Rolle

Antrel Rolle is a phenomenal athlete who has played quarterback (wildcat), cornerback and safety in the NFL. He is originally an All-American cornerback from the University of Miami.

His career at Miami was highlighted by his junior season, where he won his All-American honors. 

Drafted with the eighth overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Rolle struggled early in his career due to a knee injury that kept him out of most of his rookie season.

Ken Whisenhunt moved Rolle to free safety in 2008, and he has stayed at that position ever since. 

The Cardinals released Rolle in March of 2010 to avoid paying his $4 million roster bonus, and the New York Giants were thrilled to sign him to a long-term deal a day after his release. He has been a solid contributor for the Giants ever since.

His career stats:

• 499 tackles, two sacks, five forced fumbles, 14 interceptions, 41 passes defended, four touchdowns

13. Denver Broncos: D.J. Williams

D.J. Williams has been making waves since his high school days at De La Salle. He was regarded as the top defensive player in the country in his senior season.

His tenure with Miami was no less flashy, as he helped to get the 2001 National Championship along with Jeremy Shockey and Jonathan Vilma.

Williams was selected by the Denver Broncos with the 17th overall pick of the 2004 NFL draft, and he has been a force on the outside ever since. He is a perfect complement to rookie Von Miller, and the two of them are reeking havoc on opposing quarterbacks with regularity this season.

His career stats:

• 605 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, two interceptions, 35 passes defended

12. Carolina Panthers: Jeremy Shockey

Jeremy Shockey is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. 

As a young man, Shockey starred for the Ada High School Bulldogs as a wide receiver and outside linebacker. He also showed athletic versatility and played for the basketball team.

Shockey was a key player for the 2001 National Championship team, and he was rewarded with a first-round selection in the 2002 NFL draft (14th overall) by the New York Giants.

He played in the Big Apple until 2008, when the Giants traded him to the New Orleans Saints. He was an integral weapon for Drew Brees and the Saints and caught crucial touchdowns in the playoffs and in the Saints' Super Bowl victory in 2009.

He is now helping Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers become a competitive team, and his veteran presence surely helps the young locker room.

His career stats:

• 540 catches for 6,076 yards and 35 touchdowns

11. Chicago Bears: Devin Hester

Devin Hester is undoubtedly the greatest return specialist in the history of the NFL, yet he doesn't even crack the top 10 on this list.

Hester had a tough childhood, losing both of his parents at a young age. He overcame his difficulties and went on to become one of the most electric athletes in the world.

Hester was the first person to play offense, defense and special teams for the Miami Hurricanes. He excelled at all three phases, and he was known as "Anytime" in honor of his mentor and idol, Deion Sanders' nickname, "Prime-Time."

Hester's success in the NFL is legendary, and he still has a lot of gas in the tank. He is Canton-bound, for sure.

His career stats:

• 193 catches for 2,551 yards and 13 touchdowns
• 138 kick returns for 3,291 yards and five touchdowns
• 202 punt returns for 2,643 yards and 12 touchdowns

Remind me again...why does anyone kick to this guy?

10. New Orleans Saints: Jonathan Vilma

Jonathan Vilma is an exceptional athlete at the middle linebacker position for the New Orleans Saints. His sideline-to-sideline speed is one of the reasons the Saints were able to dominate the 2009 season and win Super Bowl XLIV. 

Vilma's family came to America as Haitian immigrants, and he grew up in Florida, where he attended Coral Gables High School and was teammates with fellow Miami alumni, Frank Gore.

Vilma stepped into the starting role for the Miami Hurricanes after Dan Morgan left for the NFL, and he and D.J. Williams helped lead the team to a National Championship in 2001. 

He was drafted by the New York Jets with the 12th overall pick in the 2004 draft, where he played until being traded to his current team in 2008.

A proven winner at all levels of competition, Vilma and the Saints are looking dangerous going into the 2011 NFL playoffs.

His career stats:

• 822 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 11 forced fumble, 11 interceptions, 34 passes defended, one touchdown

9. Washington Redskins: Santana Moss

Santana Moss is in his 11th season as a professional. Originally drafted by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft (16th overall), Moss has been with the Washington Redskins since 2005.

Believe it or not, Moss wasn't recruited out of high school, and he was a walk-on with Miami in 1997 before the team granted him a scholarship after the first three weeks of the season. He went on to have a historic career for the Hurricanes, breaking Michael Irvin's school record for receiving yards (2,546).

Moss is still going strong for the Redskins, and he looks as young as ever.

His career stats:

• 630 catches for 9,011 yards (14.3 average) and 55 touchdowns 

8. Washington Redskins: Phillip Buchanon

Phillip Buchanon is on injured reserve and is out for the rest of the season. If anyone questions why he is so high on this list, please refer to his stats compared to Ed Reed's. 

He was an all-around athlete at Lehigh Senior High School, where he lettered in baseball, track, basketball and football.

Buchanon was an All-American cornerback at the University of Miami, and he was also one of the players involved in the 2001 Championship team.

Drafted in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft (17th overall) by the Oakland Raiders, Buchanon spent three good years in the Bay Area before being traded to the Houston Texans in 2005. He has played for three more teams since, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Detroit Lions and the Washington Redskins.

His career stats:

• 388 tackles, one sack, eight forced fumble, 20 interceptions, 61 passes defended, five touchdowns

7. Denver Broncos: Willis McGahee

Willis McGahee is experiencing a career resurgence with the Denver Broncos in this, his ninth year as a pro. He is also one of the reasons Frank Gore went largely unnoticed in Miami for a while.

McGahee broke a hand-full of records for Miami in 2002. That season, he carried the ball 282 times for 1,753 yards and 28 touchdowns. It's no surprise then that he was a hot commodity. 

Unfortunately, McGahee suffered a devastating knee injury in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl that caused his draft stock to take a huge hit. Considered a lock for a top-five selection before the injury, he was selected with the 23rd overall pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2003 NFL draft.

McGahee has played for the Bills, the Baltimore Ravens and now the Broncos, and he is still a force to be reckoned with.

His career stats:

• 1,740 carries for 7,087 yards and 59 touchdowns 
• 176 catches for 1,098 yards and five touchdowns

6. New England Patriots: Vince Wilfork

Vince Wilfork is a force in the middle of the New England Patriots defense that cannot easily be moved. He has also caught two interceptions...this year!

Wilfork was an excellent high school athlete, competing in wrestling, track-and-field and football. He was also a stud for Miami's track-and-field team and holds the school record for indoor shot put.

He played three years at Miami before leaving early to enter the 2004 NFL draft. He was selected with the 21st overall pick by the New England Patriots, where he has played ever since.

His career stats:

• 403 tackles, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, 15 passes defended

5. San Francisco 49ers: Frank Gore

Frank Gore is now the San Francisco 49ers' all-time rushing leader, as he broke the official franchise record previously held by Joe "The Jet" Perry earlier this season.

Gore was a stud for Coral Gables High School in Florida. His high school performances are prodigious, and during his senior year he rushed for 2,953 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Gore's career at Miami wasn't as good as he would have hoped. He was injured in the beginning of his sophomore season, putting him out for the year with a torn ACL. Still, Gore managed to rank seventh on Miami's all-time rushing leader board with 1,975 yards and score 17 touchdowns.

Gore was drafted in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft (65th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers. He has been the team's starter since 2006, and he has since been dubbed the "Inconvenient Truth."

His career stats:

• 1,605 carries for 7,468 yards and 41 touchdowns
• 286 catches for 2,384 yards and nine touchdowns 

4. Houston Texans: Andre Johnson

Andre Johnson is one of the best wide receivers to come into the NFL in the last couple of decades. If not for his nagging hamstring injury, there is no doubt that he'd be at least one spot higher on this list.

His pedigree was sensed since his high school days. He was considered to be one of the best prospects in the nation during his time at Miami Senior High School.

It wasn't a tough decision to stay close to home and attend the University of Miami. Johnson's impressive play was part of the reason quarterback Ken Dorsey was a Heisman candidate two years in a row.

Johnson was drafted with the third overall pick of the 2003 NFL draft by the Houston Texans. He has flourished over the years for the Texans, and the team rewarded him with a long-term contract in 2007.

His career stats:

• 704 catches for 9,635 yards (13.7 average) and 52 touchdowns 

3. Indianapolis Colts: Reggie Wayne

Reggie Wayne has made his case for Canton in his 11-year NFL career.

Wayne was a stellar performer for the Miami Hurricanes, and he started out hot in his freshman year when he caught 48 passes, a school record. His four-year career at Miami is one of the best in school history, and he holds the school record for most receptions (175).

He has been blessed in the NFL to be drafted by the Indianapolis Colts and play with Peyton Manning, no doubt. He was picked in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft (30th overall). The Wayne/Harrison combination was the best in the league for many years.

His career stats:

• 843 catches for 11,496 yards and 71 touchdowns 

2. Baltimore Ravens: Ed Reed

Ed Reed is the best ball-hawking free safety to have ever played in the NFL. He is a surefire lock for the Hall of Fame, and along with Ray Lewis leads one of the most lethal defenses known to mankind.

Reed won the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award for his 2004 season, and he has been selected to seven Pro Bowls seven one All-Pro teams. 

He is simply the best.

Reed was also involved in the University of Miami's 2001 Championship season, and he was a defensive standout for the Hurricanes, setting school records with 21 interceptions, 389 interception return yards, as well as five touchdowns on special teams, returning kickoffs and punts.

His career stats:

• 538 tackles, six sacks, one safety, 11 forced fumbles, 57 interceptions, 94 passes defended, six touchdowns

1. Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis

No disrespect intended to any other middle linebackers to play in the NFL, but Ray Lewis is the best to have ever strapped on a helmet.

In 16 seasons, all with the Baltimore Ravens, Lewis has been selected to 12 Pro Bowls, has been an All-Pro seven times, has been a second-team All-Pro three times and has won the AP Defensive Player of the Year award twice. 

At the University of Miami, Lewis made his way into the starting lineup during his freshman year. He played three years, winning All-American honors in both his sophomore and junior seasons for the Hurricanes. 

Lewis was drafted with the 26th overall pick of the 1996 NFL draft. The rest is history.

His career stats:

• 1,252 tackles, 40.5 sacks, one safety, 16 forced fumbles, 31 interceptions, 65 passes defended, three touchdowns