2002 Miami Hurricanes Nearly Match 2001 for 1st Round NFL Draft Picks

The Miami Hurricanes streak of consecutive years with picks in the first round of the NFL Draft reached its summit following the seasons of 2000-03. The 2002 team was no exception.

Four Miami Hurricanes football players were selected in the first round following the 2002 season. Miami had a National Championship taken away from them that season with an infamous pass inference call well after the final whistle in overtime. Miami was leading at the time of the questionable call on what should have been the game’s last play.

That they were able to make it back to the championship game after losing so much from a team that had gone undefeated and won a National Championship in 2001 is remarkable.

Players who were backups in 2001 became starters and stars in 2002. The best example of that was running back Willis McGahee. McGahee rushed for 314 yards on 67 carries as Clinton Portis primary backup in 2001. He shared time with Frank Gore who had 562 yards on 62 carries behind Portis.

The other Hurricanes from the 2002 team to be selected in the first round of the 2003 draft were wide receiver Andre Johnson and the left side of the Hurricanes defensive line, end Jerome McDougle and tackle and tackle William Joseph.