Edgerrin James, Ray Lewis and Jimmy Johnson are all Miami Hurricanes selected as nominees for selection to the NFL Hall of Fame
The announcement was made through the Miami Hurricanes Twitter Account. Lewis is in his first year of eligibility. James is in his third. Johnson is amazingly retired in 1999 and is still awaiting enshrinement.
The former Miami Hurricanes are three of the 108 nominees. Lewis is one of 11 first year players that are nominated for the Class of 2018. Among the other first year nominees are wide receiver Randy Moss, linebacker Brian Urlacher and cornerback Ronde Barber.
Moss and Lewis seem to be locks to be inducted into Canton this year. Urlacher will eventually get in but might have trouble getting in on his first ballot.
James led the NFL in rushing during his first two years in the league. James finished his career 12th in NFL History with 12,146 yards.
Congratulations to these three Hurricanes on their nominations by the @ProFootballHOF. pic.twitter.com/WqLwklsvNJ
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) September 13, 2017
James is one of ten running backs that are among the 108 nominees. James has the most career rushing yards among the nominated players. He should get it. This might not be the year though.
Lewis is one of 15 nominated players at linebacker. His main competition at linebacker will come from Urlacher. Lewis was the 2000 and ’03 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Super Bowl XXXV MVP, a seven-time first team All-Pro and on the 2000s All-Decade team.
Johnson left the Miami Hurricanes after five seasons. He won one National Championship. Johnson would go on to Coach the Dallas Cowboys for another five seasons. He left after a falling out with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Johnson left the Cowboys after the second of two Super Bowls titles in 1993. He was 44-36 in five years with the Cowboys. Included in that was a 1-15 first season in 1989.
Garnet and Cocky
He helped build the Cowboys Superbowl teams. Johnson left the Cowboys because it’s alleged part of the falling out with his college teammate Jones was that Johnson was getting too much credit for the Superbowl win.
Part of what fueled building the Cowboys into the nineties power they became was the trade of Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings. Four picks and Walker went to the Vikings. Dallas received five players and eight draft picks in return.
Johnson resurfaced back in Miami three seasons later. He was not able to duplicate his original success in South Florida or with the Cowboys. Johnson was 36-28 in four seasons with the Dolphins. He retired following the 1999 season. Johnson has been a part of the NFL on Fox Pre-game show since.
Johnson led the Dolphins to the playoffs in each of his last three seasons. They never won as division title during his tenure. The won their wild card game in each of the last two seasons, but never got past the Divisional round.
Next: Five Miami Hurricanes Alums that are Pro Football Hall of Fame Locks
Twenty-five semi-finalists will be announced in November. The number is further pared down to 15 finalists in January. Inductees will be announced in February during Super Bowl weekend.