The legacy of tight end U and Miami Hurricanes All-Americans at the position did not begin until Willie Smith in 1984. Smith was the first Miami tight end to be named all-american. Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow also earned All-American during their Miami careers.
Smith had a breakout season for Miami in 1984 with 66 receptions for 852 yards and five touchdowns. Smith twice set single-game receiving records for Miami in 1984 with 11 catches versus Florida and 12 in the infamous loss to Boston College. The 12 reception record stood until Mike Harley had 13 versus Duke in 2021.
Smith earned second-team All-American in 1984. In 1985 Smith had 48 receptions for 669 yards and one TD to earn consensus first-team All-American. Smith finished his Miami career with 117 receptions for 1,544 yards and six touchdowns. Entering 2024 Smith is second in receptions and third in receiving yards among TEs in Miami history.
Franks began a 10-year run of great TEs at Miami. In 1999 as a junior Franks had by far his best season at Miami with 45 receptions for 565 yards and five touchdowns to earn second-team All-American. Franks' All-American season propelled him to be the 14th pick overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2000 NFL Draft.
“Miami is Tight End U and it ain’t close.”
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) October 22, 2023
Happy #NationalTightEndsDay from The U 🙌#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/rjAHbcJKmt
Shockey emerged with Miami in 2000 before having a breakout season in 2001. Shockey led Miami with 40 receptions and was second with 519 yards and seven TDs as the Hurricanes won the 2001 National Championship. In the National Championship game, Shockey had five receptions for 85 yards and a TD versus Nebraska.
Kellen Winslow II succeeded Shockey as the TE for Miami in 2002. As a junior in 2003, Winslow had 60 receptions for 605 yards and one TD to earn consensus All-American. Winslow ended his Miami career second in receptions and fourth in receiving yards among Hurricanes' TEs.
Miami has continued to produce elite TEs after Shockey. Smith, Franks, Shockey and Winslow continue to be the only Miami TEs who have earned All-American. Despite the nearly 20-year drought of All-American TEs, Miami continues to be the consensus TE U.