How did Miami Hurricanes Seniors perform in Orange Bowl?

The Miami Hurricanes Seniors were fortunate to get an extra game to play in front of the home crowd. After an undefeated regular season at home, the Miami Hurricanes Seniors walked off the Hard Rock Stadium turf for a final time with a 34-20 loss to Wisconsin in the Orange Bowl.

Braxton Berrios, Chad Thomas, Dee Delaney, K.C. McDermott, Trevor Darling, Michael Badgley Trent Harris and Anthony Moten were able to play their final game as Miami Hurricanes in one of the nation’s oldest bowl games in front of their own fans. Tight end Christopher Herndon was unable to play because of an MCL injury that ended his season after the Pittsburgh game.

Junior running back Mark Walton also did not play due to a season-ending ankle injury in the Miami loss to Florida State. Walton announced earlier this month that he would be foregoing his Senior season to enter the NFL Draft.

There has been speculation that defensive tackles R.J. McIntosh and Kendrick Norton and cornerback Michael Jackson are also considering leaving for the NFL.

Berrios was named the Miami Hurricanes Offensive MVP this season. He won the team triple crown leading the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Berrios nine touchdowns this season are the seventh-best season total in Miami Hurricanes history.

Wisconsin did a good job on the Business School valedictorian. Berrios finished with three receptions for 45 yards and one punt return for 13 yards. Two of his receptions came on back to back plays on the same drive in the third quarter.

Thomas had a dominant game on the defensive line. Matched up against a pair of All-Americans on Wisconsin’s offensive line, Thomas had four tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup. Thomas has a bright future whether it’s in the NFL or as a music producer.

Harris finished the game with two tackles and led Miami with two quarterback hurries. Harris led Miami with 8.5 sacks this season. He also had 37 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss.

Defensive tackle Anthony Moten was the third Senior on Miami’s defensive line. In his final game in the Orange and Green, he had two tackles.

Dee Delaney finished his only season in a Hurricanes uniform and had one of his best games. The former FCS All-American came to Miami as a graduate transfer from the Citadel. He wanted to prove himself at the highest level of college football before attempting to play in the NFL.

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Delaney finished with five tackles and recovered Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor’s fumble in the first quarter. Delaney was the Hurricanes only wearer of the turnover chain in the Orange Bowl. Delaney almost had another turnover later in the game.

Darling and McDermott helped protect Malik Rosier and limit the Badgers to four tackles for loss. Miami had 174 yards rushing and finished with 377 total yards on the night.

Badgley is the greatest kicker in Miami Hurricanes history by virtually every measure. He holds the school record for field goals in a game, season and career and the school all-time scoring record.

Badgley had one of the worst games of his career in the Orange Bowl. He missed a 53-yard field goal on Miami’s first drive of the game. With Miami trailing by ten late in the game, a Badgley field goal would have brought the Hurricanes within a touchdown. He shanked it off the right upright and with it went any chance for a Miami comeback.

Next: Loss in Orange Bowl a rarity for Miami Hurricanes

This Senior class went through a lot. To play in the Orange Bowl game two years after suffering a 58-0 loss to Clemson on the same field was a big accomplishment. They played under three Head Coaches and helped the bring Miami back to national prominence.

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