ABC Sports Online Tabs Eight Hurricanes To All-America Teams
Dec. 6, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — Eight players from the top-ranked and Rose Bowl-bound Miami Hurricanes were recently named to the ABC Sports Online All-America first and second teams.
Highlighting first-team honors were offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie and defensive backs Edward Reed (FS) and Phillip Buchanon (CB).
ABC Sports Online All-American second-team selections were Ken Dorsey (QB), Jeremy Shockey (TE), Joaquin Gonzalez (OT), Martin Bibla (OG) on offense and William Joseph (DT) on defense.
McKinnie, a finalist for the Outland Trophy, is regarded as one of the top offensive tackles to play in college football in the past decade, having never given up a sack in his career. At 6-9, 336, McKinnie has anchored an offensive line that has powered the Hurricanes into the National Championship game at the Rose Bowl on January 3rd. He was recently named CNNSI’s College Football Player of the Year, along with First-Team All-American by Football News, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America and CNNSI. An All-BIG EAST first-team selection, he finished tied for fifth in the balloting for Associated Press Player of the Year with Indiana’s All-America quarterback Antwaan Randle El.
Reed recently earned spots on the AFCA, Football Writers Association and CNNSI All-America teams after leading the nation with nine interceptions and directing a defense that leads the NCAA in several categories. A finalist for the prestigious Thorpe Award, given annually the top defensive back in college football, Reed finished the season with 44 tackles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick. Two of his NCAA-best nine INTs were returned for touchdowns. This season, Reed broke the Miami and BIG EAST career records for interceptions (19) and interception return yards (389). He was recently named BIG EAST Co-Defensive Player of the Year along with Syracuse All-American defensive end Dwight Freeney.
Buchanon, also a finalist for the Mosi Tatupu Special Teams Award, is a major factor on both defense and special teams for the Hurricanes. Defensively, he plays in a backfield that is regarded as one of the most polished in college football over the last few seasons. He finished the season tied for 16th nationally with five interceptions and ranks 7th in punt returns with a 14.97 yard average per return. He has scored two touchdowns this season, one off a punt and one off an interception. Buchanon was recently named to the All-BIG EAST First-Team.
Reed and Buchanon’s nod to the first-team is a result of a defensive backfield that leads the nation in pass efficiency defense (75.60 rating), interceptions (27) and narrowly places second in pass defense, allowing just 138.18 yards per game.
No other team placed as many players as Miami on the two ABC Sports Online All-America teams, followed by the recently surging Colorado Buffaloes (four total selections). Among the first-team picks, the Oklahoma Sooners tied with Miami with three selections each in Rocky Calmus (LB), Roy Williams (DB) and Jeff Ferguson (P).
