The Miami Hurricanes All-Time Team
Aug 22, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants safety Brandon Meriweather (43) plays in his Giants debut during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium. Meriweather signed earlier in the week. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive Backs
I used the term “defensive backs” primarily referring to the safety position. And, to my delight, I can get away with two slides for the position as you can justify a strong safety and a free safety.
Nevertheless, the Miami Hurricanes were also known as “Defensive Back University” and for good reason.
Sean Taylor
If Taylor were still alive today he may’ve easily went down as the greatest defensive back to ever touch a football.
Built like a tall linebacker, he was a freak of nature and gifted with incredible talent.
Taylor played at Miami from 2001 to 2003 and as a true freshman on a National Championship team, he contributed greatly.
In his junior season (2003), Taylor was a unanimous First-Team All-American, the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a Jim Thorpe Award Finalist.
He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the first round (5th overall), making him the first of six UM players drafted in that year’s first round (Winslow Jr. Vilma, Williams, Carey and Wilfork).
Sadly, Taylor was only able to play 4 seasons with the Redskins (earning the Pro Bowl twice).
In November of 2007 tragedy struck and Taylor’s home was broken into and he was shot by intruders. A bullet hit his femoral artery, which proved to be fatal.
After his death, Taylor was honored in many ways such as: his number being painted on the field by the Redskins, his number worn by many players and he was later enshrined into the Redskins Ring of Honor at FedEx Field.
Taylor was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Brandon Meriweather
Meriweather was a member of the ‘Canes from 2002 to 2006.
Meriweather was known as a hard-hitter and actually won Miami’s Hard Hitter Award in two consecutive years (2004 and 2005). In his final two years, he was First-Team All-ACC and a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
Though he was considered a bad boy (involved in a shooting incident and an on-field brawl against Florida International University), Meriweather was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round (24th overall).
Meriweather had been in two Pro Bowls and is currently playing in his ninth season for the New York Giants.
Next: More Defensive Backs