Two Miami Hurricanes Alums Named to PFF NFL Top 50
Two Miami Hurricanes alums have been named to Pro Football Focus’ NFL top 50 players for 2017. Tight End Greg Olsen of the Carolina Panthers and Defensive End Calais Campbell of the Jacksonville Jaguars were selected to the list.
Olsen came in at number 44 and Campbell 22. Olsen and Campbell were both stars for the Miami Hurricanes before beginning their NFL Careers.
Olsen led Miami in receiving with 40 receptions and was third with 489 yards as a Senior in 2006. Olsen is among the all-time leaders in receiving for tight ends at the U. He finished his Miami career with 87 receptions for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns.
Kellen Winslow is the only Miami tight end in the top ten in career receptions. He finished with 119 receptions for 1,365 yards and nine touchdowns.
Pro Football Focus said about Olsen:
"“Olsen has been doing something unusual for the Panthers over the past couple of seasons – acting as the team’s primary receiving threat as a TE – while the team’s wideouts struggle. Olsen has been thrown the ball 258 times over the past two seasons, catching 173 of them (67 percent) and dropped just two of the 82 catchable targets thrown his way last season while topping a thousand receiving yards for the third straight year. What is also laudable about his last season was the degree to which his blocking improved. It was still far from a strength, but at least it was easier to overlook given how effective he is as a receiving weapon.”"
In his Miami Hurricanes career, Campbell had 129 tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, seven passes defended and three forced fumbles. His 20.5 tackles for loss in 2006 led the ACC and was fourth nationally. He was also ninth in the ACC with four passes defended and first with three forced fumbles in 2006.
Campbell has had a stellar NFL Career. He has 396 tackles, 56.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, 42 passes defended, two safeties and one touchdown in NFL seasons. He was named to the Pro Bowl following the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Pro Football Focus’s explanation of Campbell’s spot on the list is:
"“Yet to suit up in anger for Jacksonville, Campbell has been one of the game’s most disruptive interior players for years in the desert of Arizona. Last season was the best year of Campbell’s career, and he says he’s coming for Aaron Donald’s No. 1 spot. That much remains to be seen, but Campbell has averaged 39 defensive stops over the past four seasons, and last year notched 56 total pressures while playing fewer snaps than he has in the past several seasons.”"
Campbell spoke to Sports Illustrated about joining the Jaguars:
"“Young talent. I looked at the roster and said, Oh, wow, this is a team that could really use a guy like me; an older vet who’s been to the playoffs, been to the Super Bowl. I really liked [executive vice president] Tom Coughlin.”"
Next: Are the Miami Hurricanes one of the 10 Most Shameful CFB Programs?
These lists are don’t mean much in terms of what actually happens on the field, but they have to help Miami in recruiting. Mark Richt can point to the various lists and show that Miami Hurricanes are amongst the best at the next level.