97 Days to Miami Football: Who wore number 97 best?

The number 97 is not as illustrious in the history of the Miami football program as much as some other numbers. The list came down to two Hurricanes defensive ends to wear 97.

The two best Miami football players to wear number 97 are defensive ends, Anthony Hamlet, from 1987-91 and Jonathan Garvin from 2017-17. Hamlet was a member of national championship teams with Miami in 1989 and 91. Hamlet was part of a Miami defense in 1991 that finished first in the country in points allowed.

The Hurricanes allowed 100 points in 12 games for an 8.3 PPG average on the way to their fourth National championship. Hamlet’s college stats are not available. Hamlet was drafted 263rd overall, in the 10th round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Hamlet was on the Indianapolis Colts roster in 1993.

Hamlet also played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League. Since retiring from football, Hamlet has worked in education. After spending his career in education primarily in Palm Beach County, Hamlet was hired as the Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools in 2016.

Garvin made his presence known as a true freshman in 2017. In back to back weeks on national television against Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. Garvin had strip sacks with fumble recoveries. For his career, Garvin had 106 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, five pass breakups, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and a TD.

After a mediocre 2019 season. Garvin dropped from a projection of the third or fourth round to being drafted in the seventh round, 242nd overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2020 NFL Draft. Garvin led Miami defensive lineman in 2018 as a sophomore with 60 tackles and added 17 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, five PBUs and two fumble recoveries.

Garvin’s numbers dropped to 37 tackles, nine TFLs, five sacks and two forced fumbles in 2019 as a junior. Garvin was criticized for his motor during his analysis for the 2020 NFL Draft. In the NFL, Garvin will have to produce more frequently and become more efficient to have a long professional career.