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Top 10 individual seasons in Miami history....

k9cane

k9cane

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I'll be discussing this with D-Money on the CIS podcast tomorrow: the top 10 individual seasons from a Miami Hurricane that I've seen (which again, means post-1980). This is in no particular order:

- Eddie Brown 1984: it wasn't until Andre Johnson in 2002 that the Hurricanes had another 1,000 yard season from a wide receiver

- Warren Sapp 1994: won just about every award a player could from his position. Was so dominant he got some Heisman votes. He might have been the best overall player, regardless of position this season.

- Dan Morgan 2000: Ditto to Sapp in terms of post-season accolades. Was absolutely dominant taking over the 'mike' spot from Nate Webster

- Cam Ward 2024: put up the greatest statistical season of any UM QB. He deserved to have a better defense opposite him

- Cortez Kennedy 1989: was the nucleus of the greatest DLine I've seen at Miami. Went from a back-up to a top 3 pick in one season.

- Willis McGahee 2002: In my view, it should've been 'Willis McHeisman' this season. Game in, game out, he was an explosive workhorse back.

- Bryant McKinnie 2001: Ken Dorsey never had to worry about blindside pressure with 'Mt McKinnie' in 2000 and 2001

- Sean Taylor 2003: It was a travesty he didn't win the Thorpe Award this season. His performance at Doak Campbell this season is the stuff of legends. They say 2/3 of the earth is covered by water, well, the rest was covered by ST.

- Bennie Blades 1986: while he won the Thorpe in 87, in 86 he had 10 INT's. A ballhawk who was also a physical enforcer on the back end

- Michael Barrow 1992: every time Miami needed a big play defensively, 'Bam Bam' delivered. From the hit on Tamarick Vanover, to the big 4th down stop at Happy Valley vs Penn St. Barrow also received Heisman votes this season

- Malachi Toney 2025: Hey, there's a reason why he's on the cover for EA Sports after just his freshman campaign.

*** It was VERY tough for me to leave out the 1998 season of Edgerrin James, who put Miami back on the road back to respectability after the tough 1997 they had. His effort vs UCLA is one of the greatest in program history.
 
k9cane said:
I'll be discussing this with D-Money on the CIS podcast tomorrow: the top 10 individual seasons from a Miami Hurricane that I've seen (which again, means post-1980). This is in no particular order:

- Eddie Brown 1984: it wasn't until Andre Johnson in 2002 that the Hurricanes had another 1,000 yard season from a wide receiver

- Warren Sapp 1994: won just about every award a player could from his position. Was so dominant he got some Heisman votes. He might have been the best overall player, regardless of position this season.

- Dan Morgan 2000: Ditto to Sapp in terms of post-season accolades. Was absolutely dominant taking over the 'mike' spot from Nate Webster

- Cam Ward 2024: put up the greatest statistical season of any UM QB. He deserved to have a better defense opposite him

- Cortez Kennedy 1989: was the nucleus of the greatest DLine I've seen at Miami. Went from a back-up to a top 3 pick in one season.

- Willis McGahee 2002: In my view, it should've been 'Willis McHeisman' this season. Game in, game out, he was an explosive workhorse back.

- Bryant McKinnie 2001: Ken Dorsey never had to worry about blindside pressure with 'Mt McKinnie' in 2000 and 2001

- Sean Taylor 2003: It was a travesty he didn't win the Thorpe Award this season. His performance at Doak Campbell this season is the stuff of legends. They say 2/3 of the earth is covered by water, well, the rest was covered by ST.

- Bennie Blades 1986: while he won the Thorpe in 87, in 86 he had 10 INT's. A ballhawk who was also a physical enforcer on the back end

- Michael Barrow 1992: every time Miami needed a big play defensively, 'Bam Bam' delivered. From the hit on Tamarick Vanover, to the big 4th down stop at Happy Valley vs Penn St. Barrow also received Heisman votes this season

- Malachi Toney 2025: Hey, there's a reason why he's on the cover for EA Sports after just his freshman campaign.

*** It was VERY tough for me to leave out the 1998 season of Edgerrin James, who put Miami back on the road back to respectability after the tough 1997 they had. His effort vs UCLA is one of the greatest in program history.
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First of all, your Top 10 includes 11 guys. So you should make it a Top 12 and include Edge...
 
I would add 2001 Dorsey. Finished 3rd in the Heisman voting, and led the all-time best college football team of ever and ever and ever.

And while I'm impressed with you listing 1984 Downtown Eddie Brown, I'd point out that Bernie Kosar's 1984 passing-yardage total was the all-time UM record and was not surpassed until 2024 by a guy named Cam Ward. So Bernie's dominant season was unequalled for longer than Eddie's was.

Finally, I'll forgive you for being too young to list 1978 Ottis Anderson. I get it, we all have to have a cutoff season at some point. But I'll also point out that Ottis's gaudy 6.8 YPC was not equalled until 2014 Duke Johnson, at least when talking about UM RBs with enough carries and yards to be the every-down RB. And Duke set the record for all-purpose yards that year too.

Can you stretch to a Top 15?
 
TheOriginalCane said:
First of all, your Top 10 includes 11 guys. So you should make it a Top 12 and include Edge...
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Seth Meyers Lol GIF by Late Night with Seth Meyers
 
ben said:
Seth Meyers Lol GIF by Late Night with Seth Meyers
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1. Eddie Brown 1984

2. Warren Sapp 1994

3. Dan Morgan 2000

4. Cam Ward 2024

5. Cortez Kennedy 1989

6. Willis McGahee 2002

7. Bryant McKinnie 2001

8. Sean Taylor 2003

9. Bennie Blades 1986

10. Michael Barrow 1992

11. Malachi Toney 2025

*12. Edgerrin James 1998

*13. Ken Dorsey 2001

*14. Bernie Kosar 1984

*15. Duke Johnson 2014
 
I know you said post 1980, but you have to at least consider mentioning:

Ted Hendricks 1968 season

Finished 5th in heisman voting the year OJ won.
The Ted Hendricks award is named after him still 60 years later
Averages 109 tackles for 3 straight seasons
2x consensus first team all American
Forced 9 turnovers in 1968
 
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For me it's Dan Morgan. He was literally the best linebacker and defensive player in college football.

First team All Big East
Big East defensive player of the year
Unanimous All American
Lambert Trophy
Butkus Award
Nagurski Trophy
Bednarik Award
First player in NCAA history to be awarded the Butkus, Nagurski and Bednarik in the same season.

I've got him just ahead of Sapp because.. I like him as a person way more than I do Sapp.
 
k9cane said:
I'll be discussing this with D-Money on the CIS podcast tomorrow: the top 10 individual seasons from a Miami Hurricane that I've seen (which again, means post-1980). This is in no particular order:

- Eddie Brown 1984: it wasn't until Andre Johnson in 2002 that the Hurricanes had another 1,000 yard season from a wide receiver

- Warren Sapp 1994: won just about every award a player could from his position. Was so dominant he got some Heisman votes. He might have been the best overall player, regardless of position this season.

- Dan Morgan 2000: Ditto to Sapp in terms of post-season accolades. Was absolutely dominant taking over the 'mike' spot from Nate Webster

- Cam Ward 2024: put up the greatest statistical season of any UM QB. He deserved to have a better defense opposite him

- Cortez Kennedy 1989: was the nucleus of the greatest DLine I've seen at Miami. Went from a back-up to a top 3 pick in one season.

- Willis McGahee 2002: In my view, it should've been 'Willis McHeisman' this season. Game in, game out, he was an explosive workhorse back.

- Bryant McKinnie 2001: Ken Dorsey never had to worry about blindside pressure with 'Mt McKinnie' in 2000 and 2001

- Sean Taylor 2003: It was a travesty he didn't win the Thorpe Award this season. His performance at Doak Campbell this season is the stuff of legends. They say 2/3 of the earth is covered by water, well, the rest was covered by ST.

- Bennie Blades 1986: while he won the Thorpe in 87, in 86 he had 10 INT's. A ballhawk who was also a physical enforcer on the back end

- Michael Barrow 1992: every time Miami needed a big play defensively, 'Bam Bam' delivered. From the hit on Tamarick Vanover, to the big 4th down stop at Happy Valley vs Penn St. Barrow also received Heisman votes this season

- Malachi Toney 2025: Hey, there's a reason why he's on the cover for EA Sports after just his freshman campaign.

*** It was VERY tough for me to leave out the 1998 season of Edgerrin James, who put Miami back on the road back to respectability after the tough 1997 they had. His effort vs UCLA is one of the greatest in program history.
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Younger Cane fans were robbed of Eddie Brown’s greatness. If he hadn’t been injured in the league, he’d have Mike Irvin-like reverence amongst Canes fans of all ages. I’m 43, but I’m a bit of a historian. I was barely a kindergartener, but I remember him being the man for those mid to late 80’s Bengals.

His body breaking down and Ickey blowing out his knee was the combined death knell for those squads, sending them into a decades-long tailspin. Had he held up, I think he would have had a decent shot at the HOF…
 
Warren Sapp was dominant in 1994. Mcgehee was unstoppable in 2002.

Those are the 2 best for me. Good list though. Blades gets overshadowed by Reed and Taylor. Blades was a beast
 
Kosar 1984 was one of the best.

Honorable Mention
Jose Borregales 2020. Was there anything to cheer for that season?

Morgan in 2000 and McGahee in 2002 are tops for me.
 
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RattlerCane305 said:
Younger Cane fans were robbed of Eddie Brown’s greatness. If he hadn’t been injured in the league, he’d have Mike Irvin-like reverence amongst Canes fans of all ages. I’m 43, but I’m a bit of a historian. I was barely a kindergartener, but I remember him being the man for those mid to late 80’s Bengals.

His body breaking down and Ickey blowing out his knee was the combined death knell for those squads, sending them into a decades-long tailspin. Had he held up, I think he would have had a decent shot at the HOF…
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Every chance he gets Micheal Irvin scream his name.. Much Respect
 
TheOriginalCane said:
I would add 2001 Dorsey. Finished 3rd in the Heisman voting, and led the all-time best college football team of ever and ever and ever.

And while I'm impressed with you listing 1984 Downtown Eddie Brown, I'd point out that Bernie Kosar's 1984 passing-yardage total was the all-time UM record and was not surpassed until 2024 by a guy named Cam Ward. So Bernie's dominant season was unequalled for longer than Eddie's was.

Finally, I'll forgive you for being too young to list 1978 Ottis Anderson. I get it, we all have to have a cutoff season at some point. But I'll also point out that Ottis's gaudy 6.8 YPC was not equalled until 2014 Duke Johnson, at least when talking about UM RBs with enough carries and yards to be the every-down RB. And Duke set the record for all-purpose yards that year too.

Can you stretch to a Top 15?
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OJ did it with zero passing game.
He was the offense and opponents knew it, yet he still ran for almost 7 per.
Also throw in two 100 yard kickoff returns that year.
 
Elmer Leghorn said:
Warren Sapp was dominant in 1994. Mcgehee was unstoppable in 2002.

Those are the 2 best for me. Good list though. Blades gets overshadowed by Reed and Taylor. Blades was a beast
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Two best for me might be McKinnie and Ward. One publication named McKinnie National Player of the year - I don't think that's ever happened with an OL before. Obviously Cam's season speaks for itself.

Vinnie was great, but he can't be on a top 10 list because he didn't show up in the biggest game of the year (that's a nice way of phrasing it).

OJ and Hendricks' years at Miami were before my time. I did see both in the NFL - Ted's 26 interceptions as a DE is one of the craziest sports statistics ever.
 
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