Andre Johnson became the 11th Miami football alum inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Johnson was inducted shortly after kick returner extraordinaire Devin Hester. Johnson is the second Miami Hall of Fame wide receiver after the playmaker Michael Irvin.
After sitting behind legends Santana Moss and Reggie Wayne in 2000, Johnson became a star on the 2001 Miami national championship team in 2001. Johnson had 37 receptions for 682 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2001. In the Rose Bowl National Championship game Johnson burned Nebraska for five receptions for 199 yards.
Johnson's Rose Bowl performance earned him the 2002 Rosebowl Co-MVP with Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey. Johnson improved on his 2001 numbers with 52 receptions for 1,092 yards and added nine TDs during the 2002 season. Johnson redshirted as a freshman in 1999.
Johnson spoke about being recruited to Miami by Butch Davis. After two seasons under Davis, Johnson thrived when Larry Coker took over in 2001. Davis left for the Cleveland Brown and Moss and Wayne completed their eligibility following the 2000 season.
" In 1999, I enrolled in the University of Miami. I'm very thankful to Butch Davis for giving me a scholarship and giving me a chance to play at the school that I truly love. Playing at the University of Miami was a dream come true for me...That year was where I was given the blueprint, what it was to be a professional...You had to live up to a standard. Everybody was great and....the players held you to that standard. At the University of Miami, we was able to win a championship in 2001. Right now, that's still the best team to ever play college football.""Andre Johnson at HOF induction ceremony
Johnson exceeded his career total with four receptions for 69 yards in the 2001 season opener at Penn State. Johnson had his first 100-yard game with two receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown in the home opener week two versus Rutgers.
Johnson added 100-yard games versus Florida State, Syracuse and Nebraska as Miami completed its first undefeated season in nine years. Johnson was more dominant in 2002 with four 100-yard games. The 100 games were versus West Virginia, Tennessee, Syracuse and Virginia Tech.
Johnson blitzed Syracuse and Virginia Tech in consecutive weeks with 12 receptions for 374 yards and two TDs. Johnson also ran track at Miami where he won the Big East 100 Meter title, After the 2002 season, Johnson was named a third-team All-American.
"It was just something I'd do to stay in shape."
— Jason Bristol (@JBristolKHOU) August 1, 2024
Did you know @johnson80 Andre Johnson was also a track star at Miami?
He became the @BIGEAST champ.
Before he enters the @ProFootballHOF, watch our entire interview - streaming for free on @KHOU 11+. @CanesTrack #Texans pic.twitter.com/CG0HtEH0eu
Johnson decided to forego his final season of eligibility to enter the 2003 NFL Draft. The Houston Texans selected Johnson with the third overall pick in 2003. Johnson earned second-team All-Pro in 2006 and 2012 and first-team in 2008 and 2009.
Johnson was named to the All-Rookie team in 2003. In 2006 and 2008 Johnson led the NFL in receptions and in receiving yards in 2008 and 2009. The NFL named Johnson first-team All-Pro in 2008 and 2009 and second-team in 2006 and 2012.
Reggie Wayne leads all Miami alums with 1,070 career receptions. Johnson had 1,062. Wayne had 14,345 receiving yards. Johnson had 14.185. Johnson and Wayne's Miami careers overlapped in 1999 and 2000. Tight end Jimmy Graham has the most receiving TDs by a Miami alum with 89. Johnson had 70.
Expect Wayne to be the next Miami alum to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Graham and Greg Olson are also contenders to eventually earn enshrinement into Canton. Despite being known as TE U, Miami has yet to have a TE inducted into the Hall of Fame.