What New Ring of Honorees Mean To Miami Football
Ray Lewis LB 1993-95
Lewis was one of the best players during the era between the great Miami teams of the 1980’s and early 1990s and the dominant Miami Football teams of the early 2000s.
Lewis was recruited to Miami late. He received the last available scholarship for the 1993 season. He made an immediate impact.
Lewis finished his Freshman season with 81 tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss and four pass deflections. The stellar season earned him Freshman All-American status.
Following his Freshman season, Lewis earned All Big East after the 1994 and’95 season. Lewis is regarded as the greatest linebacker in Miami History.
Lewis and defensive tackle Warren Sapp anchored the 1994 Miami defense., The Hurricanes finished the regular season 10-1.
They led top ranked and heavily favored Nebraska 17-7 in the third quarter of the Orange Bowl before the Cornhuskers scored 17 unanswered points. The win gave legendary Nebraska Head Coach Tom Osborne first national championship.
Lewis is sixth all-time in tackles at Miami with 388. He has two of the greatest seasons defensively in Miami history. Lewis had 152 tackles during the 1994 season. He eclipsed that with 160 during the 1995 season.
Lewis was selected with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft by Baltimore Ravens. He went on to a legendary NFL career.
Lewis was a two-time Superbowl champion. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIV in the Ravens victory over the New York Giants.
Throughout his career, Lewis played in 13 Pro Bowls was a seven-time first team All-Pro and recorded 2,000 tackles. He is a sure fire Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible next year.