10 biggest Miami football NFL Draft busts
Alonzo Highsmith FB Houston Oilers 1st round 3rd overall 1987
Alonzo Highsmith is one of the greatest Miami football players in program history. Highsmith starred on the 1983 National Championship team and the 1986 Hurricanes that finished second in the country. Howard Schnellenberger converted Highsmith to running back after he originally signed as a defensive lineman.
Highsmith is tied for third all-time in Miami football history with three TD runs versus Notre Dame in 1984. Highsmith finished his four-year Miami career with 1,873 rushing yards and18 TDs while adding 92 receptions for 977 yards and another seven scores. The NFL career for Highsmith began with a six-month contract holdout.
Highsmith missed six months of workouts and the first six games of his rookie season. As a rookie Highsmith had 29 carries for 106 yards and one TD and four receptions for 55 yards and another score. Highsmith had productive second and third seasons before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys.
Another contract holdout and knee injuries limited Highsmith to 32 carries over the final three seasons of his NFL career with Dallas and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After his playing career, Highsmith was a longtime NFL scout and executive. Highsmith is currently the Miami General Manager of Football Operations.