Miami Hurricanes tight end U has big NFL Sunday

The Miami Hurricanes have been dubbed tight end U. For nearly the last two decades a steady supply of tight ends has had stellar NFL Careers after playing collegiately at Miami.

The tight end U monicker likely began with Bubba Franks who entered the NFL in 2000. Franks was the 14th pick overall in the first round by the Green Bay Packers after completing his career with the Miami Hurricanes.

Jeremy Shockey succeeded Franks in the 2000 season and the parade of outstanding tight ends has continued with the Miami Hurricanes through Freshman Brevin Jordan this season.

On Sunday in the NFL the Miami Hurricanes tight end alums shined. Chris Herndon, David Njoku, Greg Olsen and Erik Swoope all scored touchdowns on Sunday. Olsen is the elder statesmen of that group. He is sixth in NFL history in receptions among tight ends.

Olsen began his career with the Chicago Bears before being traded to the Carolina Panthers. He was part of the biggest comeback in Panthers history on Sunday. Olsen had only two receptions for five yards, but one was the game-winning touchdown reception with 1:22 remaining in the game.

Herndon is a rookie with the New York Jets. He was a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Herndon beat out another former Miami Hurricanes tight end Clive Walford who was waived during the final cuts in training camp. Walford reportedly worked out for the Cincinnati Bengals last week.

Walford holds the Miami Hurricanes records for a tight end in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Jordan could have a chance to break those records.

Herndon and the Jets had a more difficult day than the Panthers in a 37-17 loss to the Vikings on Sunday. The rookie set career highs with four receptions for 42 yards and caught his second career touchdown. That was the second game in a row Herndon scored.

Herndon’s touchdown tied the score at seven in the first quarter. He should be able to develop a good rapport with fellow rookie, quarterback Sam Darnold who was the third overall pick in the draft.

Njoku was part of a Cleveland Browns comeback on Sunday that fell short. In his second season in the NFL Njoku’s touchdown cut the Tampa Buccaneers lead to 16-9 against Cleveland. Njoku was second on the Browns with four receptions for 52 yards and the touchdown on Sunday.

Cleveland had to rally from 14 points down twice. After Njoku’s touchdown Tampa Bay rookie running back Ronald Jones who played with Darnold at USC scored a touchdown to put the Bucs back up 14.

Cleveland tied it in the fourth quarter with 14 unanswered points. A Chandler Catanzaro 59-field goal in overtime won the game for the Buccaneers.

Swoope had a non-descript career as a Miami Hurricanes basketball player. He is in his fourth season with the Indianapolis Colts. He has been waived and signed to the Colts practice squad several times. The last two seasons Swoope has blossomed.

Swoope’s touchdown on Sunday was the third game in a row he has reached the end zone. Swoope has seven receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown this season. He is a second-string tight end behind Eric Ebron in Indianapolis’ two tight end offense.