Compared to the National Champion teams, it's very obvious we haven't been getting near enough NFL level talent at the skill positions.
Of the 21 BCS Champions since 1998, 18 of 21 (86%) have had at least 2 QB/RB/WR's that at some point in their careers was a:
- Heisman Trophy winner
- 1st Round Draft Pick
- NFL Pro Bowler
1998 - Tennessee - Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry
1999 - FSU - Chris Weinke, Peter Warrick, Anquan Boldin
2000 - Oklahoma - None
2001 - Miami - Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, Frank Gore, Andre Johnson
2002 - Ohio St. - Chris Gamble, Michael Jenkins
2003 - LSU - Joseph Addai, Dwayne Bowe (only had a minor role on this team)
2004 - USC - Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush
2005 - Texas - Vince Young, Jamaal Charles
2006 - Florida - Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin
2007 - LSU - None
2008 - Florida - Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin
2009 - Alabama - Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, Trent Richardson
2010 - Auburn - Cam Newton
2011 - Alabama - Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy
2012 - Alabama - Amari Cooper, Eddie Lacy
2013 - FSU - Jameis Winston, Devonta Freeman, Kelvin Benjamin
2014 - Ohio St - Ezekiel Elliot, Michael Thomas
2015 - Alabama - Derrick Henry, Calvin Ridley
2016 - Clemson - DeShaun Watson, Mike Williams
2017 - Alabama - Calvin Ridley, Josh Jacobs (Tua & Jeudy are likely 1st Rounders)
2018 - Clemson - Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross (I'm assuming between these 4, 2 will meet the criteria)
The Exceptions
2000 Oklahoma - Miami got screwed in the BCS here. The 2000 Miami team with Portis, Moss and Wayne would've dominated Oklahoma
2007 LSU - This is the only 2 loss BCS Champ, and debate-ably the weakest
2010 Auburn - Cam Newton might count for 2 players. Since 1980 only 3 players have won a Heisman & NFL MVP - Cam Newton, Barry Sanders, Marcus Allen
What Miami Teams Would Qualify?
1983 - 1990 - All Teams
1996 - 2004 - All Teams (although counting Devin Hester in 03 & 04 is a bit of a stretch)
2011 - Lamar Miller, Phillip Dorsett
1991 - We won the NC, and that team wouldn't qualify, but it was very close with Toretta (Heisman), Kevin Williams (2nd)
My Thoughts (Since 2005)
We just haven't been getting enough NFL talent on our roster
QB - So far below where we should be. Kaaya was a 6th round pick, and Brock Berlin played in a couple NFL games. Pretty inexcusable
RB - Lamar Miller has two 1,000 yd seasons and 1 Pro Bowl. Duke Johnson has been good. We're still better than a lot of schools here, but just ok overall.
WR - Allen Hurns had one 1,000 yd season. Benjamin had one 900 yd season. We've had some WR's, but no one close to being a #1 guy in the NFL.
TE - We've been awesome here. I left them off because TE's really don't move the needle as playmakers at the college level.
Our Future
I think if you're being really, really optimistic - you could project Jeff Thomas or Lorenzo Lingard as potential 1st Rounders or Pro Bowlers that are on our roster right now. Heisman winners...I can't see any. Players like Lingard & Chaney give a good outlook - but QB & WR need to improve.
We've been getting good group of skill position players - but barely anyone that makes a real impact in the NFL. Until we start closing more of the Dalvin Cook, Sony Michel, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Jerrry Jeudy types that have been leaving out backyard - a 10 win ranked around #10-#15 is probably our ceiling (with a dominant defense).
Of the 21 BCS Champions since 1998, 18 of 21 (86%) have had at least 2 QB/RB/WR's that at some point in their careers was a:
- Heisman Trophy winner
- 1st Round Draft Pick
- NFL Pro Bowler
1998 - Tennessee - Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry
1999 - FSU - Chris Weinke, Peter Warrick, Anquan Boldin
2000 - Oklahoma - None
2001 - Miami - Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, Frank Gore, Andre Johnson
2002 - Ohio St. - Chris Gamble, Michael Jenkins
2003 - LSU - Joseph Addai, Dwayne Bowe (only had a minor role on this team)
2004 - USC - Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush
2005 - Texas - Vince Young, Jamaal Charles
2006 - Florida - Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin
2007 - LSU - None
2008 - Florida - Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin
2009 - Alabama - Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, Trent Richardson
2010 - Auburn - Cam Newton
2011 - Alabama - Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy
2012 - Alabama - Amari Cooper, Eddie Lacy
2013 - FSU - Jameis Winston, Devonta Freeman, Kelvin Benjamin
2014 - Ohio St - Ezekiel Elliot, Michael Thomas
2015 - Alabama - Derrick Henry, Calvin Ridley
2016 - Clemson - DeShaun Watson, Mike Williams
2017 - Alabama - Calvin Ridley, Josh Jacobs (Tua & Jeudy are likely 1st Rounders)
2018 - Clemson - Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross (I'm assuming between these 4, 2 will meet the criteria)
The Exceptions
2000 Oklahoma - Miami got screwed in the BCS here. The 2000 Miami team with Portis, Moss and Wayne would've dominated Oklahoma
2007 LSU - This is the only 2 loss BCS Champ, and debate-ably the weakest
2010 Auburn - Cam Newton might count for 2 players. Since 1980 only 3 players have won a Heisman & NFL MVP - Cam Newton, Barry Sanders, Marcus Allen
What Miami Teams Would Qualify?
1983 - 1990 - All Teams
1996 - 2004 - All Teams (although counting Devin Hester in 03 & 04 is a bit of a stretch)
2011 - Lamar Miller, Phillip Dorsett
1991 - We won the NC, and that team wouldn't qualify, but it was very close with Toretta (Heisman), Kevin Williams (2nd)
My Thoughts (Since 2005)
We just haven't been getting enough NFL talent on our roster
QB - So far below where we should be. Kaaya was a 6th round pick, and Brock Berlin played in a couple NFL games. Pretty inexcusable
RB - Lamar Miller has two 1,000 yd seasons and 1 Pro Bowl. Duke Johnson has been good. We're still better than a lot of schools here, but just ok overall.
WR - Allen Hurns had one 1,000 yd season. Benjamin had one 900 yd season. We've had some WR's, but no one close to being a #1 guy in the NFL.
TE - We've been awesome here. I left them off because TE's really don't move the needle as playmakers at the college level.
Our Future
I think if you're being really, really optimistic - you could project Jeff Thomas or Lorenzo Lingard as potential 1st Rounders or Pro Bowlers that are on our roster right now. Heisman winners...I can't see any. Players like Lingard & Chaney give a good outlook - but QB & WR need to improve.
We've been getting good group of skill position players - but barely anyone that makes a real impact in the NFL. Until we start closing more of the Dalvin Cook, Sony Michel, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Jerrry Jeudy types that have been leaving out backyard - a 10 win ranked around #10-#15 is probably our ceiling (with a dominant defense).