Miami football still TE U and other ESPN position rankings
The Miami football program still produces the best tight ends and ranks in the top 10 in several other categories in the latest update of “Position U: Why 2023 could be a defining year for the rankings” posted by ESPN on Wednesday morning. Miami ranks in the top 10 at four different positions.
Miami has produced NFL TEs every year since 1998. There have been 14 Miami TEs drafted since 1998. David Njoku, Greg Olsen, Kellen Winslow, Jeremy Shockey and Bubba Franks were all first-round picks at TE from Miami. Will Mallory was a fifth pick of the Indianapolis Colts at TE from Miami in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Defensive back, linebacker and running back were the other three positions that the Miami football program has been successful producing over the past 25 years. Miami was fourth in the running back rankings behind LSU and slightly ahead of Texas and Oklahoma per ESPN who stated those four are ” all incredibly closely bunched.”
The Miami football program ranked ninth among the linebackers. The Hurricanes have recently produced Jaelan Phillips who was a defensive end at Miami and Shaq Quarterman as a more traditional LB in the last five years. Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis and former Pro Bowler Jonathan Vilma helped solidify Miami at LB.
"Tight End U is the Miami Hurricanes“Will Mallory went in the fifth round to the Colts. It’s absurd that people attempt to make the case for anyone else as tight end U. Miami isn’t just a clear-cut No. 1. The Hurricanes are tops by a country mile (or an Everglades mile, if you will). In the Position U era (since 1998), the Canes have had 15 tight ends drafted.They’ve had a future NFL tight end on their roster every year. The 2007 season was the lone year their starter (or co-starter) at tight end didn’t go on to be drafted. Will Mallory added to the lineage this spring, going in the fifth round to the Indianapolis Colts…He joins a genuinely astonishing parade of talent that includes Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen, Bubba Franks, Jimmy Graham and David Njoku.”"
David Hale wrote the summaries of each position for ESPN. Hale regularly covers the ACC. Miami ranked fifth at defensive back. Safety has been an elite position for Miami since the 1980s. Bennie Blades set the tone for Miami safeties in the modern era by winning the second Thorpe Award in 1987.
Ed Reed became a Pro Football Hall of Famer primarily playing for the Baltimore Ravens after leading Miami to the 2001 National Championship. Sean Taylor succeeded Reed at safety and Kenny Phillips was a freshman All-American in 2005. Kamren Kinchens was a 2022 All-American and returns for Miami in 2023.
Next. Miami legend Greg Olsen leads TE U. dark
The foundation for the Miami defensive backs, linebackers, running backs and tight ends ranking in the top 10 nationally among position groups that develop the most talent was primarily in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Mario Cristobal is recruiting at a high level. The next step for Miami is to develop that talent.