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Mt Rushmore of greatest true freshman season at UM...

k9cane said:
As discussed on the CanesInsight podcast, the greatest true freshman seasons at the Univ. of Miami. And I must fall on the sword here, on the show I overlooked Ahmmon Richards 2016 campaign, where he nearly got to 1,000 yards in receiving. Yeah, I flubbed. Hey, even Tony Gwynn struck out once in awhile.

But here's my Mt Rushmore, followed by some honorable mentions:
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k9cane said:
*** Ray Lewis 1993: a tackling machine from the beginning. Made Robert Bass into UM's Wally Pipp after taking over in the second game of the year vs VaTech. The rest was history. Was actually a late signee in the recruiting cycle.

*** Duke Johnson 2012: The season opener at BC let you know how special this guy was. Was a multi-purpose threat who was also a dangerous kick returner. Best player of the 2010's in my view

*** Rueben Bain 2023: Won the ACC Freshman of the Year. Was an immediate impact player upfront on defense. He and Cici Mauignoa signaled that Mario Cristobal was bringing in a different caliber of player in the trenches.

*** Malachi Toney 2025: Quite simply, the greatest true frosh season in program history. There's no need to overthink this one. And he's already become an iconic figure in South Florida.

Honorable Mention

- Stacey Coley 2013
- Reggie Wayne 1997
- Frank Gore 2001
- Francis Mauignoa 2023
- Edgerrin James 1996
- Jason Fox 2006
- Brad Kaaya 2014
- Bryce Fitzgerald 2025
Click to expand...

Are you kidding me right now K9.... where the **** is Dan Morgan kid?

the Man switched positions to play LB just a few weeks earlier then wins the starting job as a true freshman wrecks havoc on a horrible defense with absolutely no depth and finishes season with 105 tkls 3 sacks 1 FF...people like to forget how good he was
19 tackles + 2 Sacks vs Syracuse
21 tackles vs Va tech
11 tackles vs FSU
14 tackles vs Rutgers

finished with 94 tackles in the last 7 games (13.4 tackles a game) as a true freshman in 97

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k9cane said:
As discussed on the CanesInsight podcast, the greatest true freshman seasons at the Univ. of Miami. And I must fall on the sword here, on the show I overlooked Ahmmon Richards 2016 campaign, where he nearly got to 1,000 yards in receiving. Yeah, I flubbed. Hey, even Tony Gwynn struck out once in awhile.

But here's my Mt Rushmore, followed by some honorable mentions:

*** Ray Lewis 1993: a tackling machine from the beginning. Made Robert Bass into UM's Wally Pipp after taking over in the second game of the year vs VaTech. The rest was history. Was actually a late signee in the recruiting cycle.

*** Duke Johnson 2012: The season opener at BC let you know how special this guy was. Was a multi-purpose threat who was also a dangerous kick returner. Best player of the 2010's in my view

*** Rueben Bain 2023: Won the ACC Freshman of the Year. Was an immediate impact player upfront on defense. He and Cici Mauignoa signaled that Mario Cristobal was bringing in a different caliber of player in the trenches.

*** Malachi Toney 2025: Quite simply, the greatest true frosh season in program history. There's no need to overthink this one. And he's already become an iconic figure in South Florida.

Honorable Mention

- Stacey Coley 2013
- Reggie Wayne 1997
- Frank Gore 2001
- Francis Mauignoa 2023
- Edgerrin James 1996
- Jason Fox 2006
- Brad Kaaya 2014
- Bryce Fitzgerald 2025
Click to expand...
Bro! Ahman Richards!!
 
KingB02 said:
Has anyone else ever had 6 picks as a true freshman here?
Click to expand...
Tied for the ACC lead.

Uncanny how often BFitz was Johnny-on-the-spot despite being just a few months out of high school. Expecting even bigger things out of him as sophomore this fall
 
k9cane said:
As discussed on the CanesInsight podcast, the greatest true freshman seasons at the Univ. of Miami. And I must fall on the sword here, on the show I overlooked Ahmmon Richards 2016 campaign, where he nearly got to 1,000 yards in receiving. Yeah, I flubbed. Hey, even Tony Gwynn struck out once in awhile.

But here's my Mt Rushmore, followed by some honorable mentions:

*** Ray Lewis 1993: a tackling machine from the beginning. Made Robert Bass into UM's Wally Pipp after taking over in the second game of the year vs VaTech. The rest was history. Was actually a late signee in the recruiting cycle.

*** Duke Johnson 2012: The season opener at BC let you know how special this guy was. Was a multi-purpose threat who was also a dangerous kick returner. Best player of the 2010's in my view

*** Rueben Bain 2023: Won the ACC Freshman of the Year. Was an immediate impact player upfront on defense. He and Cici Mauignoa signaled that Mario Cristobal was bringing in a different caliber of player in the trenches.

*** Malachi Toney 2025: Quite simply, the greatest true frosh season in program history. There's no need to overthink this one. And he's already become an iconic figure in South Florida.

Honorable Mention

- Stacey Coley 2013
- Reggie Wayne 1997
- Frank Gore 2001
- Francis Mauignoa 2023
- Edgerrin James 1996
- Jason Fox 2006
- Brad Kaaya 2014
- Bryce Fitzgerald 2025
Click to expand...

I'm trying to be "Mr Smarty Pants" and come up with a name no one else mentioned.
Did Daryl Williams start as a true frosh?
I think he played a lot, but not sure if he was no.1 on depth chart.
Very productive safety from American HS and not too shabby NFL career.
Anyways, I think your list plus Richards is the one.
Good choices and interesting topic.
 
k9cane said:
As discussed on the CanesInsight podcast, the greatest true freshman seasons at the Univ. of Miami. And I must fall on the sword here, on the show I overlooked Ahmmon Richards 2016 campaign, where he nearly got to 1,000 yards in receiving. Yeah, I flubbed. Hey, even Tony Gwynn struck out once in awhile.

But here's my Mt Rushmore, followed by some honorable mentions:

*** Ray Lewis 1993: a tackling machine from the beginning. Made Robert Bass into UM's Wally Pipp after taking over in the second game of the year vs VaTech. The rest was history. Was actually a late signee in the recruiting cycle.

*** Duke Johnson 2012: The season opener at BC let you know how special this guy was. Was a multi-purpose threat who was also a dangerous kick returner. Best player of the 2010's in my view

*** Rueben Bain 2023: Won the ACC Freshman of the Year. Was an immediate impact player upfront on defense. He and Cici Mauignoa signaled that Mario Cristobal was bringing in a different caliber of player in the trenches.

*** Malachi Toney 2025: Quite simply, the greatest true frosh season in program history. There's no need to overthink this one. And he's already become an iconic figure in South Florida.

Honorable Mention

- Stacey Coley 2013
- Reggie Wayne 1997
- Frank Gore 2001
- Francis Mauignoa 2023
- Edgerrin James 1996
- Jason Fox 2006
- Brad Kaaya 2014
- Bryce Fitzgerald 2025
Click to expand...
Malachi Toney may be the most special player to ever come through UM. He is that good IMO. We'll see how he does in his second year. He checks all the boxes and while he doesn't have great speed, he does so many other things well, that it isn't that big of a deal. He just has that "it" factor.
 
MedleyCane said:
I'm trying to be "Mr Smarty Pants" and come up with a name no one else mentioned.
Did Daryl Williams start as a true frosh?
I think he played a lot, but not sure if he was no.1 on depth chart.
Very productive safety from American HS and not too shabby NFL career.
Anyways, I think your list plus Richards is the one.
Good choices and interesting topic.
Click to expand...

Williams played in 89 as a true frosh mostly on a loaded special teams unit (alongside the likes of Ryan McNeil, Darrin Smith, Jessie Armstead). I still say Williams was the best player on that 91 team
 
CANEFAN83 said:
Malachi Toney may be the most special player to ever come through UM. He is that good IMO. We'll see how he does in his second year. He checks all the boxes and while he doesn't have great speed, he does so many other things well, that it isn't that big of a deal. He just has that "it" factor.
Click to expand...

I call him our 'Roy Hobbs' -- the Natural
 
Headhunter said:
Are you kidding me right now K9.... where the **** is Dan Morgan kid?

the Man switched positions to play LB just a few weeks earlier then wins the starting job as a true freshman wrecks havoc on a horrible defense with absolutely no depth and finishes season with 105 tkls 3 sacks 1 FF...people like to forget how good he was
19 tackles + 2 Sacks vs Syracuse
21 tackles vs Va tech
11 tackles vs FSU
14 tackles vs Rutgers

finished with 94 tackles in the last 7 games (13.4 tackles a game) as a true freshman in 97

View attachment 366199
Click to expand...

Hey, I can not argue any of this!!
 
I know this is for true freshmen but GR15 had a ridiculous redshirt freshman season. Don't think we will see anyone replicate that.
 
gore wasn't a true fresh. Did dan Morgan play as a true freshman?

Ahmmon and coley had GREAT freshman seasons. Kaaya started as a true fresh, not sure he should be on the list though.
 
I was going to bring up Jerome but he didnt play much if at all in '84. His reign of terror began in '85 on into '86
 
nycane said:
gore wasn't a true fresh. Did dan Morgan play as a true freshman?

Ahmmon and coley had GREAT freshman seasons. Kaaya started as a true fresh, not sure he should be on the list though.
Click to expand...
I don't think you should include a guy who went 6-7 on here as a true fresh.
 
nycane said:
gore wasn't a true fresh. Did dan Morgan play as a true freshman?

Ahmmon and coley had GREAT freshman seasons. Kaaya started as a true fresh, not sure he should be on the list though.
Click to expand...
I’m almost positive Dan Morgan did play in ‘97. Pretty sure Butch switched him to LB from FB right at the end of camp and he played the whole season.
 
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