College Football: The Mount Rushmore for the 30 best programs of all time
By Brad Weiss
Miami Hurricanes: Michael Irvin, Vinny Testaverde, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed
The Miami Hurricanes have produced some of the more memorable players in college football history, as there have been numerous all-time players to play for “The U.” Winners of five national championships, Hurricanes football was the gold standard back in the 1980s and early 1990s. They are still one of the more popular programs in the country today.
Michael Irvin
Nicknamed “The Playmaker,” there really was nothing Michael Irvin could not do with the football in his hands. An All-American wide receiver for the Hurricanes, Irvin was a catalyst on Miami’s national title team in 1987. He broke numerous school records during his time in South Beach. A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Irvin still holds the school record for receptions, and touchdowns.
Vinny Testaverde
Vinny Testaverde may have left school on a low note, but he was a part of a quarterback dynasty at Miami that has been rivaled by very few other programs. Testaverde was a member of the Hurricanes’ 1983 national title team. Three years later, he would take home the Heisman Trophy. The Hurricanes’ all-time leader in touchdown passes, Testaverde also won the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, and the Davey O’Brien in a season that will be hard to beat.
Ray Lewis
One of the more memorable players in NFL history, Ray Lewis cut his chops at the University of Miami, where he was a punishing linebacker and a two-time All-American. After being a Freshman All-American, Lewis racked up nearly 150 tackles as a sophomore, before nearly winning the Butkus Award as a junior. He left school early but also left his mark on the Hurricanes program.
Ed Reed
When it comes to the defensive backs that played at “The U”, there is no shortage of all-time players. However, Ed Reed stands above them all, as he was not only a two-time All-American but led the Hurricanes to a BCS National Championship. With 17 interceptions over his last two years at the school, Reed was an all-time great. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fames.