78 Days to Miami football: All-American OT Bryant McKinnie
Bryant McKinnie was an All-American offensive tackle for the Miami football team in 2000 and 2001. McKinnie won the Outland Trophy as a senior in 2001 honoring the best interior lineman in college football.
Bryant McKinnie was a dominant force anchoring the offensive line for the Miami football team in the early 2000s. A two-time All-American, McKinnie is one of the most honored players in Miami Hurricanes history. McKinnie won the Outland Trophy in 2001 honoring the best interior lineman in college football.
McKinnie became the first Miami player to be presented the Jim Parker Award in 2001 as the best offensive lineman in college football. A year later McKinnie’s former teammate, Miami center Brett Romberg gave Miami back to back winners of the Jim Parker Award. McKinnie was also twice named first-team All-Big East.
Possibly the best offensive lineman in Miami football history, McKinnie redshirted his first season with the Hurricanes in 1999 after transferring from Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. McKinnie was a JUCO All-American before coming to Miami. While at Scranton, McKinnie switched to offensive tackle from defensive end.
McKinnie had 54 tackles and 13 sacks as a senior at Woodbury High School in New Jersey. McKinnie was an exceptional high school athlete who competed in track and field in the discus, shot put and amazingly running the 400 meters. Following his Miami career, McKinnie was the seventh overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings.
McKinnie spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Vikings before signing with the Baltimore Ravens in 2011. McKinnie started all 16 regular-season games and two playoff games for Baltimore in 2011. A reserve during the 2012 regular season, McKinnie started all three playoff games during Baltimore’s Super Bowl run.
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McKinnie was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. The Outland Trophy McKinnie won was only the second by a Miami football player. Russell Maryland won the 1990 Outland Trophy. McKinnie never allowed a sack during his Hurricanes career and was named the CNN/Sports Illustrated Player of the Year.