Ranking the 19 greatest Miami players ever, from Sean Taylor to Ed Reed

We had to make the Miami Hurricanes' greatest players list a little longer than the rest, and it still might not be long enough given some of the omissions. 

Of the 19 players from "The U" on our list, a total of 14 players went on to become first-round picks in the NFL Draft. Four of the top six players on this list are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and would be considered on all-time teams in the history of the sport. By the way, all six of those players are from the state of Florida.  

How do you choose among those four Hall of Famers? Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are among the best to ever do it at their respective positions — and they all represent that Miami legacy that carries from high school to the NFL in Florida. 

How did we determine the list of Hurricanes? Here was the formula Sporting News used to determine the top players for each school:

• Heisman Trophy winner: 10 points
• Heisman top-five finish: 2nd place (4 points), 3rd place (3 points), 4th place (2 points), 5th place (1 point) 
• Major awards (3 points): Maxwell, Walter Camp, Doak Walker, Davey O'Brien, Unitas, Biletnikoff, Mackey, Outland, Lombardi, Rimington, Bednarik, Nagurski, Butkus, Thorpe, Groza, Guy, Hendricks, Campbell, Lott, Hornung, Wuerffel, Manning
• Consensus All-American: 3 points
• Legacy (15-1 points, AP Poll style with first place receiving 15 points): A subjective ranking of those players' standing in school history. 
• Stats (15-1 points, AP Poll style): A subjective look at a player's statistics by era. Are they a school record-holder? 

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19. Santana Moss, WR (1997-2000) 

Miami accolades: Consensus All-American (2000)

Why he made SN's list: The 5-foot-10, 193-pound Santana Moss emerged as one of the playmakers during the Miami revival in the late 1990s, and he ranks second in school history with 2,546 receiving yards. He put together a phenomenal season in 2000 with 45 catches for 748 yards — an average of 16.5 yards per catch — and six rushes for 201 yards and two TDs. He also added 655 punt returns and four TDs. It was that array of highlight-reel plays that allowed Moss to stand out. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: "Big time players step up in big games." Moss coined that phrase after seven catches for 115 yards in a 27-24 victory against No. 1 Florida State on Oct. 7, 2000. Moss was a playmaker who set the tone for a line that also included Reggie Wayne and Andre Johnson in the early 2000s. Washington took Moss with the No. 16 pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. 

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18. Danny Stubbs (1983-87) 

Miami accolades: Consensus All-American (1987)  

Why he made SN's list: Danny Stubbs arrived in Miami as a linebacker in 1983, but Jimmy Johnson moved Stubbs to the defensive line. It paid off. Stubbs had 12 sacks as a junior in 1986 — and he became a dominant force in the 1987 season with a school-record 17 sacks. He finished with a school-record 39.5 sacks for his career. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Stubbs played on two national championship teams. That school record gets lost in the shuffle — and he remains one of the most-dominant players in school history. The San Francisco 49ers took Stubbs with the first pick of the second round in the 1988 NFL Draft. 

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17. Kellen Winslow II (2001-03) 

Miami accolades: Mackey Award (2003), Consensus All-American (2003) 

Why he made SN's list: Kellen Winslow II was a backup tight end for Jeremy Shockey on the national championship team in 2001 before a dominant two-year stretch where he totaled 117 catches, 1,331 yards and nine TDs. He was a dominant force as a sophomore and became the first Miami player to win the Mackey Award, which is given to the nation's best tight end. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Winslow might be best remembered for the "I'm a solider" outburst after a loss to Tennessee on Nov. 8, 2003, and his most-memorable game was an 11-catch, 122-yard performance in the BCS national championship game loss to Ohio State. He still had the best numbers among those NFL-caliber Miami tight ends during that run. 

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16. Cam Ward, QB (2024) 

© Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Miami accolades: Heisman Trophy fourth place (2024), Davey O'Brien Award (2024), Manning Award (2024), Consensus All-American (2024) 

Why he made SN's list: Ward made the best out of his only season with the Hurricanes. He passed for 4,314 yards, 39 TDs and seven interceptions — and he led Miami to a 10-win season. How we judge that success in the transfer portal era is subjective, but he was Miami's first Heisman finalist since 2002. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Ward was the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he could be part of a program renaissance under Mario Cristobal. He made his mark at Miami by leading the Hurricanes to a 25-point comeback in a 39-38 victory against Cal on Oct. 5, 2024. 

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15. Bryant McKinnie, T (1999-2001) 

Miami accolades: Outland Trophy (2001), Consensus All-American (2001) 

Why he made SN's list: The 6-foot-8, 352-pound tackle was a dominant force for two seasons for Miami teams that combined for a 23-1 record. Miami also averaged 204.6 rushing yards per game in the 2001 season. Bryant McKinnie was a two-time All-Big East selection at the position. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Miami has had dominant tackles in school history, from Leon Searcy to Francis Mauigoa in the present day, but McKinnie is the only one to earn Consensus All-American honors. He was the No. 7 pick in the 2002 NFL Draft and enjoyed a 13-year career in the NFL.

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14. Russell Maryland, DT (1987-90) 

Miami accolades: Outland Trophy (1990), Consensus All-American 

Why he made SN's list: Russell Maryland dropped 50 pounds after his freshman season, and he played the interior defensive line at 273 pounds, where he finished with 279 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 20.5 career sacks. Miami finished 21-3 from 1989-90. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Maryland is one of three Miami players — and the only defensive player — to be selected with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. He went on to be a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys. 

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13. Bernie Kosar (1982-84) 

Miami accolades: Heisman Trophy fourth place (1984) 

Why he made SN's list: Bernie Kosar was a two-year starter for the Hurricanes, and he finished with 5,971 yards and 40 TDs in those two seasons — albeit with 29 interceptions. Kosar led Miami to an 11-1 record and the program's first national championship in 1983. Kosar had 300 passing yards and two TDs in the 31-30 victory against No. 1 Nebraska in the 1984 Orange Bowl. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Kosar is significant because he opened the NFL pipeline of quarterbacks at Miami — a line that included Jim Kelly, Vinny Testaverde and Steve Walsh. Kosar did hold the school's single-season record in passing yards (3,642) until Ward broke it last season. 

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12. Ted Hendricks, LB (1966-68) 

Miami accolades: Heisman Trophy fifth place (1968), Consensus All-American (1967, 1968) 

Why he made SN's list: Ted Hendricks — aptly nicknamed "The Stork” — emerged as a dominant pass rusher in the late 1960s. He had 327 solo tackles while moving from defensive end, defensive tackle and outside linebacker in college — and he still holds the school record with 12 forced fumbles. That was a preview for what was to come in his NFL career. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: The Hendricks Award is given to the nation's top defensive end every season. Hendricks started that tradition with the Hurricanes — and he remains the standard at the position. He was selected with the first pick of the second round in the 1969 NFL Draft. He was a four-time Super Bowl winner. 

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11. Sean Taylor, S, (2001-03) 

Miami accolades: Consensus All-American (2003) 

Why he made SN's list: A 6-foot-2, 230-pound safety, Sean Taylor was one of the most-freakish talents to play college football this century. He was a role player on the 2001 national championship team as a freshman — and the Hurricanes would occasionally put him at receiver, where he averaged 17.3 yards per catch. Taylor's best season was in 2003 — when he led the nation with 10 interceptions and three returns for TDs. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Taylor — who died at 24 years old in 2007 — still holds a special place in program lore. The Florida City, Fla., native was the No. 5 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. 

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10. Willis McGahee, RB (2000-02) 

Miami accolades: Heisman Trophy fourth place (2002), Consensus All-American (2002) 

Why he made SN's list: Willis McGahee put up 1,753 rushing yards and 28 TDs in 2002 — an amazing season that still equals the school's single-season rushing record. McGahee rushed for 204 yards against No. 6  Florida and had a 205-yard, six-TD performance in a 56-45 shootout with No. 18 Virginia Tech in the regular-season finale that season. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Ottis Anderson, Edgerrin James and Clinton Portis also have arguments, but McGahee put together the greatest single season by a Miami running back — and if not for a gruesome leg injury in the BCS championship game against No. 2 Ohio State the story might be even better. 

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9. Vinny Testaverde, QB (1982-86) 

Miami accolades: Heisman Trophy winner (1986), Maxwell Award (1986), Walter Camp Award (1986), Davey O'Brien Award (1986) 

Why he made SN's list: Vinny Testaverde was a two-year starter at Miami and formed a dynamic connection with Michael Irvin during that stretch. Testaverde finished with 6,058 passing yards and 48 TDs, and he led the Hurricanes to a 21-3 record in those two seasons. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Testaverde was an efficient QB who kept the Miami NFL reputation at the position rolling. Testaverde threw five interceptions in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl loss to No. 2 Penn State — a game that kept the Miami quarterback out of the top five on this list. He was the No. 1 pick in the 1987 NFL Draft and played 21 seasons. 

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8. Ken Dorsey, QB (1999-2002) 

Miami accolades: Heisman Trophy fifth place (2002), Maxwell Award (2001)  

Why he made SN's list: Ken Dorsey was 38-2 as a starter as the Hurricanes' quarterback from 2000-02, and losses to Washington in 2000 and Ohio State in 2002 prevented what could have been three national championship runs. Dorsey finished with 9,565 passing yards and 86 TDs in that brilliant career. Dorsey was 6-1 against top-10 opponents as the starting quarterback. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Dorsey was a seventh-round pick in the NFL, but he's first in passing TDs and second in passing yards in the record book. Dorsey was 5-0 in games against Florida State and Florida, and he averaged 282.2 passing yards with a total of 15 TDs and seven interceptions in those games. 

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7. Gino Torretta, QB (1989-92) 

Miami accolades: Heisman Trophy winner (1992), Maxwell Award (1992), Walter Camp Award (1992), Davey O'Brien Award (1992), Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (1992)  

Why he made SN's list: Stack up the Miami quarterbacks however you want, but Gino Torretta was a two-time national champion and a Heisman Trophy winner. He's the most-decorated quarterback of the bunch. He had 257 yards and a TD in the Hurricanes' 22-0 shutout of Nebraska in the 1992 Orange Bowl, which clinched the 1991 national championship. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Miami lost the 1993 Sugar Bowl the following year, and Torretta won the Heisman over San Diego State's Marshall Faulk in 1992. Those are held against the Miami star quarterback — almost too much — when looking back at his career. He finished with 7,690 passing yards, 47 TDs and 20 interceptions. 

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6. Ray Lewis, LB (1993-95) 

Miami accolades: First-team All-American (1995) 

Why he made SN's list: Ray Lewis — a two-year starter at Miami — put up 152 tackles in 1994 and 160 tackles as a junior in 1995. Lewis finished second to Illinois' Kevin Hardy in the Butkus Award voting that season. He also had four interceptions. The Hurricanes led the FBS in scoring defense with 10.8 points per game in 1994.

Place in Hurricanes' history: Lewis' intensity burned through the TV set. Lewis — a Lakeland, Fla. — remains an outspoken ambassador of Miami — and that continued through his career as a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Baltimore Ravens. 

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5. Dan Morgan, LB (1997-2000) 

Miami accolades: Butkus Award (2000), Nagurski Trophy (2000), Bednarik Award (2000), Consensus All-American (2000) 

Why he made SN's list: Dan Morgan set the career record with 532 tackles during a four-year career with the Hurricanes. He swept the Butkus, Nagurski and Bednarik Awards in the same season for the Hurricanes. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Morgan was a four-year starter and three-year captain during a stretch where Miami went from 5-6 in 1997 to 11-1 in 2000. Morgan was a dominant performer whose toughness helped set up the Hurricanes for the national championship run that followed in 2001. Morgan is now the president of football operations for the Carolina Panthers.

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4. Michael Irvin, WR (1984-87)

Miami accolades: National champion (1987) 

Why he made SN's list: Michael Irvin — a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native — emerged as "The Playmaker" for the Hurricanes in the mid-1980s. Irvin had 143 catches for 2,423 yards — an average of 16.9 yards per catch — with 26 TDs at Miami. He also led the Hurricanes to a national championship in 1987. He capped his college career with a 23-yard TD catch in the 1988 Orange Bowl against Oklahoma. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: If you had to pick one player who defined "The U" in the 1980s, then who would it be? It's Irvin. He didn't pile up the awards of some of the other superstars on this list before winning three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. Yet he remains invested in the program. Did you see him on the sidelines at the Cal game last year? That matters at "The U."  

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3. Warren Sapp, DT (1991-94) 

Miami accolades: Lombardi Award (1994), Nagurski Trophy (1994), Consensus All-American (1994) 

Why he made SN's list: We're still amazed Warren Sapp and Ray Lewis were on the same defense at Miami. Sapp had 10.5 sacks in 1994 from the interior line — a dominant season that helped carry the Hurricanes to the 1995 Orange Bowl. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Sapp had eight tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in a 34-20 victory against No. 3 Florida State on Oct. 8, 1994. That vaulted Sapp into the Heisman Trophy discussion, where he finished sixth that season. Sapp was a Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he's now an assistant coach under Deion Sanders at Colorado.  

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2. Bennie Blades, S (1984-87) 

Miami accolades: Thorpe Award (1987), Consensus All-American (1986-87) 

Why he made SN's list: Bennie Blades –— who played at Piper High School in Sunrise, Fla. — was the hard-hitting, game-breaking heart of Miami's defense for three seasons — a stretch when the Hurricanes finished 33-3. Blades had 10 interceptions in 1986. He had five interceptions and 124 tackles the following season.

Place in Hurricanes' history: Blades was the prototype all-around safety under Jimmy Johnson — which he displayed with a 17-tackle performance that included a fumble recovery in a 26-25 victory against No. 4 Florida State on Oct. 3, 1987. Blades finished his career with 19 interceptions, and he helped the Hurricanes win the 1987 national championship. He was the No. 3 pick in the 1987 NFL Draft. 

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1. Ed Reed, S (1997-2001) 

Miami accolades: Consensus All-American (2000, 2001) 

Why he made SN's list: Best safety ever? Ed Reed had a school-record 21 interceptions at Miami. He had eight interceptions as a junior in 2000 — only to top that with nine the following season. That included four interception returns for TDs. He had interceptions against No. 1 Florida State and No. 2 Virginia Tech in 2000 — and he had two against both teams the following season. 

Place in Hurricanes' history: Blades or Reed? There isn't a wrong answer here, but Reed's ability to make the never-before-seen play — like when Reed stripped the ball from teammate Matt Walters and returned it for a game-sealing interception in an 18-7 victory against Boston College on Nov. 10, 2001 — were part of that aura. Reed was the X-factor on that 2001 national championship team — a trend that continued with the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL, where he had 64 interceptions over a 12-year career. 

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