Preseason Publications Favor The Hurricanes
June 19, 2000
Coral Gables, FL (www.hurricanesports.com) – Three of the major 2000 preseason college football magazines are out, Lindy’s, The Sporting News and Athlon Sports Annuals, and each has placed the University of Miami among its short list of National Championship title contenders.
Additionally, numerous UM veterans along with some new faces received preseason honors or mentions.
Lindy’s gave the Hurricanes its highest preseason ranking of the three magazines, by naming UM No. 5 in its preseason poll. Additionally, senior receiver Santana Moss was selected as a First-Team Preseason All-American, while senior defensive tackle Damione Lewis and senior middle linebacker Dan Morgan were named to the Second-Team.
UM’s offensive backfield received a No. 5 ranking nationally, highlighted by the No. 5 runningback senior James Jackson and the No. 15 quarterback sophomore Ken Dorsey.
The Miami receiving corps was rated No. 2 nationally and features the top-rated receiver in the country in Moss. Fellow senior Reggie Wayne was chosen as the No. 26 receiver. Moss was also selected as the No. 3 Top Returner and the No. 2 candidate for the Biletnikoff Award.
Additionally, junior offensive tackle Joaquin Gonzalez was rated No. 10 at his position.
On defense, the line was ranked No. 7 nationally. Sophomore end William Joseph was rated as the No. 20 end, while All-American Lewis was chosen the No. 5 tackle.
Morgan checks in at No. 4 on the Top Inside Linebackers list and No. 5 on the Butkus Award list.
UM’s defensive secondary was rated third, highlighted by the No. 5 safety in senior Al Blades and No.25 safety junior Ed Reed. Sophomore cornerback Mike Rumph was selected as the No. 18 cornerback.
Lindy’s has also selected incoming freshman Willis McGahee, Willie Dixon, Willie Roberts, Vince Wilfork and D.J. Williams among its top 100 freshman for 2000. McGahee and Wilfork were also selected among the top 25 recruits from the Southeast Region.
The Sporting News was a narrow second to Lindy’s placing the Hurricanes No. 6 in its preseason poll, while selecting Moss to its preseason First-Team Offense.
Additionally, UM was picked to win the BIG EAST Conference and was rated No. 1 among conference teams in nearly every facet of the game. Moss, Jackson, Joseph, Lewis, Morgan, Rumph and Reed were each selected to the preseason First-Team All-BIG EAST. Junior Robert Williams, Gonzalez, junior Martin Bibla, senior Leonard Myers, Blades, sophomore Freddie Capshaw and Moss (kick returner) were named to the Second-Team All-BIG EAST.
Among the UM players rated on offense were Jackson (No. 17 RB), Moss (No. 2 WR) and Williams (No. 20 TE). Additionally, the entire offensive backfield ranked No. 4, while the receiving corps was No. 1 nationally.
On defense, TSN rated Lewis (No. 8 DT), Morgan (No. 5 ILB), Rumph (No. 6 CB), Myers (No. 9 DB) and Reed (No. 4 SS). In addition, the defensive secondary received a No. 1 ranking, while the linebackers were rated eighth.
Among the awards, Moss was the No. 2 candidate for the Biletnikoff, while Morgan was No. 9 on the Butkus list.
TSN also listed incoming freshman Williams as the No. 1 player, followed by McGahee (No. 11).
Athlon has rated the Hurricanes as its No. 9 squad nationally and No. 1 in the BIG EAST. Moss and Gonzalez were each selected to the All-American Second-Team, while Morgan and Lewis were picked to the Third-Team.
Moss, Jackson, Gonzalez, Lewis, Morgan and Rumph were additionally selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team.
The Hurricanes, who defeated Georgia Tech, 28-13, in the 2000 Toyota Gator Bowl, open up the 2000 season with McNeese State on August 31 at the Orange Bowl.
For ticket information call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Dade County. Also check UM’s official athletic website at www.hurricanesports.com for all the latest news.
