10. Michael Irvin
Perhaps no one epitomizes the Miami swagger than Irvin. He finished his Hurricanes career with 143 receptions for 2,423 yards and 26 touchdowns. His 840 yards as a freshman in 1985 stood as the school record until it was broken by Ahmmon Richards in 2016.
Irvin played on three Miami teams that had a shot at National Championships. After falling short catching passes from Testaverde in 1985 and ’86, the Hurricanes got their title behind the pitch and catch duo of Steve Walsh and Irvin among others.
Irvin was the poster what Miami symbolized during the Jimmy Johnson era, bold, brash and in your face. He left Miami as the school’s all-time leader in yards, receptions and touchdowns. His receiving and yardage records were not broken until the 2000 season by Reggie Wayne and Santana Moss. Irvin still holds the school yardage record.
Irvin would be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round as Johnson as his first draft pick as the Cowboys Head Coach. He would win two titles with the Cowboys with Johnson and would win one more under Barry Switzer. Former Hurricanes Russell Maryland was Irvin’s teammate for all three Cowboys Super Bowl wins.
Irvin still holds the record for the most receiving yards by a Cowboy. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.