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Fourteen years in a row with first round picks is what many people think of when they consider the impressive draft history of the University of Miami. It’s the type of record that seems impossible, especially considering it started in 1995 while the squad was being put under probation with a heavy scholarship reduction. Ultimately, it’s just one of the many impressive stats that comes along with the last 40 years of Miami Hurricanes being selected in the NFL Draft. (*We looked into this stretch of time because it marked when Miami made its move to being a national power)
Gene Coleman was the lone draftee from Miami in 1980 and never made it into an NFL game, but this was far from foreshadowing for the next four decades. In that timeframe, 237 UM players were drafted by NFL teams, which comes out to an average of nearly six players per year. One Cane was drafted every single year in that stretch, and there were more years of nine or more picks (8) than there were years of two or less draftees (6).
The pinnacle of picks came in 1988 when 12 Canes were taken on the heels of the program’s second national championship. Five players went in the first 52 picks alone with Bennie Blades and Michael Irvin going third to Detroit and eleventh to Dallas respectively. Danny Stubbs went early in the second before two more receivers, Bennie’s brother Brian and Brett Perriman, were selected. Melvin Bratton was selected in this class before re-entering the draft the following year. On average, in the five drafts immediately following a national championship, nine Canes were selected with two of the nine being first rounders (the most was five in 2002).
One can’t mention the group of five first round Canes in ‘02 without also bringing up the next two years as well, which totalled out to 15 first round picks in three years. These classes represented a large portion of 38 total draftees from the 2001 Canes roster. The 2002 class alone had eleven Canes drafted, including players that amassed 2,329 yards of offense and 23 touchdowns for the '01 squad, three starting OL, and an entire secondary. Despite losing so much, they still would have another five top 15 players drafted between ‘03 and ‘04.
The five in ‘02 and the historic group of six two years later were a big part of the 52 first rounders in that stretch of 40 years. That group also includes two number one overall picks (Vinny Testaverde in ‘87 and Russell Maryland in ‘91) and four others (Alonzo Highsmith, Cortez Kennedy, Bennie Blades, and Andre Johnson) taken in the top three. UM's six top three picks in that time is more than Bama (5), Auburn (5), Clemson (0), FSU (2), UF (2), Georgia (2), LSU (2), Michigan (2), Nebraska (5), Notre Dame (1), Ohio State (5), and Texas (4). The only school major school who bettered that number is USC.
Twenty-six of UM’s first rounders were selected among the top 15 picks of the first round. More impressive than that, UM had top fifteen picks at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive tackle, defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker, cornerback, and safety, with multiple top 15 players at nine of those ten positions. Some of those picks are among very select groups, like Sean Taylor and Bennie Blades representing two of only five safeties drafted in the top five over the last 40 years.
Twenty-seven franchises have drafted Canes since 1980, but no team has taken more Hurricanes than the Cleveland Browns, especially since their return to the league in 1999. They’ve selected 11 Canes since 1999 and 16 Miami players over the last 40 years. This is just ahead of Tampa Bay (12), Dallas (11), and the hometown Dolphins (11). The Giants drafted more Canes in the first round than any other team, including back to back first round picks (Jeremy Shockey and William Joseph) in the early 00s. Baltimore, Indianapolis, Miami, and New England all picked three Canes in the first round since 1980.
Follow along in this thread throughout the week as well be posting tweets with more info, stats, and interesting facts on each position group in the draft from our twitter account (@CanesLegacy). Go Canes!
Gene Coleman was the lone draftee from Miami in 1980 and never made it into an NFL game, but this was far from foreshadowing for the next four decades. In that timeframe, 237 UM players were drafted by NFL teams, which comes out to an average of nearly six players per year. One Cane was drafted every single year in that stretch, and there were more years of nine or more picks (8) than there were years of two or less draftees (6).
The pinnacle of picks came in 1988 when 12 Canes were taken on the heels of the program’s second national championship. Five players went in the first 52 picks alone with Bennie Blades and Michael Irvin going third to Detroit and eleventh to Dallas respectively. Danny Stubbs went early in the second before two more receivers, Bennie’s brother Brian and Brett Perriman, were selected. Melvin Bratton was selected in this class before re-entering the draft the following year. On average, in the five drafts immediately following a national championship, nine Canes were selected with two of the nine being first rounders (the most was five in 2002).
One can’t mention the group of five first round Canes in ‘02 without also bringing up the next two years as well, which totalled out to 15 first round picks in three years. These classes represented a large portion of 38 total draftees from the 2001 Canes roster. The 2002 class alone had eleven Canes drafted, including players that amassed 2,329 yards of offense and 23 touchdowns for the '01 squad, three starting OL, and an entire secondary. Despite losing so much, they still would have another five top 15 players drafted between ‘03 and ‘04.
The five in ‘02 and the historic group of six two years later were a big part of the 52 first rounders in that stretch of 40 years. That group also includes two number one overall picks (Vinny Testaverde in ‘87 and Russell Maryland in ‘91) and four others (Alonzo Highsmith, Cortez Kennedy, Bennie Blades, and Andre Johnson) taken in the top three. UM's six top three picks in that time is more than Bama (5), Auburn (5), Clemson (0), FSU (2), UF (2), Georgia (2), LSU (2), Michigan (2), Nebraska (5), Notre Dame (1), Ohio State (5), and Texas (4). The only school major school who bettered that number is USC.
Twenty-six of UM’s first rounders were selected among the top 15 picks of the first round. More impressive than that, UM had top fifteen picks at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive tackle, defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker, cornerback, and safety, with multiple top 15 players at nine of those ten positions. Some of those picks are among very select groups, like Sean Taylor and Bennie Blades representing two of only five safeties drafted in the top five over the last 40 years.
Twenty-seven franchises have drafted Canes since 1980, but no team has taken more Hurricanes than the Cleveland Browns, especially since their return to the league in 1999. They’ve selected 11 Canes since 1999 and 16 Miami players over the last 40 years. This is just ahead of Tampa Bay (12), Dallas (11), and the hometown Dolphins (11). The Giants drafted more Canes in the first round than any other team, including back to back first round picks (Jeremy Shockey and William Joseph) in the early 00s. Baltimore, Indianapolis, Miami, and New England all picked three Canes in the first round since 1980.
Follow along in this thread throughout the week as well be posting tweets with more info, stats, and interesting facts on each position group in the draft from our twitter account (@CanesLegacy). Go Canes!
