Miami Hurricanes Snubbed From AP and SI All-American Teams

The Associated Press and Sports Illustrated recently released their College Football All-America teams. Noticeably missing from the both the first and second teams were any Miami Hurricanes.

The Miami Hurricanes are the consensus favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division this season. They also return three Freshman All-Americans from 2016 and add Football Championship Subdivision All-American Cornerback Dee Delaney.

Wide receiver Ahmmon Richards was a Freshman All-American last season. He broke Michael Irvin’s 31-year-old Miami Hurricanes Freshman receiving record. He finished last season with 934 yards on 49 receptions and three touchdowns.

Richards led all Freshmen in receiving yards nationally last season. He is also on the Biletnikoff Award watch list.

Sports Illustrated’s Joan Niesen examined their own All-America ommissions. Richards was one of the players they profiled.

"“Richards was the best freshman receiver in the country a year ago, finishing with 934 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 19.1 yards per reception as well, and in the post-Brad Kaaya era at Miami, he’ll be a key piece of Mark Richt’s offense. If he picks up where he left off a season ago, Richards could be the best receiver in the ACC come season’s end.”"

The other players offensively who could challenge for a spot on the All-American teams are running back Mark Walton and left tackle K.C. McDermott. Both players were named preseason All-ACC.

Walton ran for 1,117 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. He also added over 200 yards receiving and another touchdown. He is likely going to have to carry the load in 2017 on the ground.

Walton’s primary backups in 2016. Joseph Yearby and Gus Edwards have moved on. Yearby left a year early for the NFL and Edwards is at Rutgers as a graduate transfer.

McDermott and Trevor Darling are the lone Seniors on Miami’s offensive line. McDermott has been named to a few preseason All-ACC teams.

Linebackers Shaq Quarterman and Michael Pinckney also earned Freshman All-America honors in 2016. Quarterman is Miami’s leading returning tackler after finishing second a season ago. Pinckney was fifth on the Hurricanes in tackles in 2016.

There are a few candidates who could be All-Americans for the Miami  Hurricanes in 2016. Defensively it could be a case of being too deep up front. Miami essentially has three starters at defensive end this season. Trent Harris, Joe Jackson and Chad Thomas are all impact players.

Kicker Michael Badgley was 11th in the country in field goals per game last season and 31st in field goal percentage. Six of the players that were ahead of him were Seniors. Badgley was named second team All-ACC by the media.

Delaney comes to Miami from FCS The Citadel as a Graduate Transfer. He finished ten in FCS last season in interceptions per game.

Related Story: Could Dee Delaney Lead ACC in Interceptions?

Last month ESPN posed the question about could Delaney lead the ACC in interceptions.

"“If there’s a player in the secondary poised to make a name for himself quickly in the ACC, consider Delaney’s case. He’s experienced (a grad transfer from The Citadel) and talented (he would’ve been a mid-round NFL pick had he entered the draft).He’s also playing on the back end of a defense that figures to be exceptionally good up front. So if teams can’t run on Miami, and QBs tend to be throwing under pressure, the obvious outcome is ample opportunity for interceptions. If Delaney makes the most of those chances, he could end up the biggest name on a defense chock full of talent by the end of the year.”"

While Miami got shut out from the All-American team, the ACC leads the way with seven players named All-Americans. That included Florida State Safety Derwin James and cornerback Tavarus McFadden.

Next: Should Miami Football Have a Preseason All-American?

The ACC owned the defense with six first team All-Americans. Three players each graced the defensive line and the secondary.