Miami Football: 15 greatest players of the Jimmy Johnson era

• 26 TDs Fifth All-Time in Miami history
• 32 Career TDs tying for third all-time

Melvin Bratton left the Miami football program as the all-time leader with 32 total touchdowns. Bratton finished his Miami career with 1,417 rushing yards and 26 TDs and 1,084 receiving yards and another six scores. Bratton finished his Miami career third all-time with 2501 scrimmage yards.

The swagger created under Johnson that brought Miami to the forefront of college football had a lot to do with Bratton. Bratton was a vocal leader. A versatile player out of the backfield, Bratton played fullback and halfback and was equally adept as a receiver. Bratton scored the first TD in the 1988 Orange Bowl.

Miami beat Oklahoma 20-14 in the 1988 Orange Bowl to earn the Hurricanes’ second national championship. That was the third straight season Miami beat Oklahoma. Bratton is still third all-time in TDs and fourth in rushing TDs in Miami history. Bratton is also in the top 10 in multiple categories in Miami history.

The former star RB is third in Miami history with 192 points, sixth in touchdown receptions, eight in all-purpose yardage, 2,455), ninth in rushing (9th, 1,371) and ninth with 86 receptions. Bratton would later appear as one of the primary players of the Miami championship era during the ESPN 30 for 30 “The U.”