Ring of Honor
Bennie Blades – Defensive Back (1985-1987) – Class of 2009
As a junior, he was selected first-team All-American in 1986 by the Associated Press and United Press International after leading the nation in interceptions with 10. The following season, Blades not only helped the Canes win the national championship, but he also was selected first-team All-American by the AP, Kodak, United Press International, The Sporting News, The Walter Camp Foundation and the FWAA. The same year, Blades also won the Jim Thorpe Award. While at UM, he set school records for INTs in a career (19), INT return yards (305), consecutive games with an INT (5), total tackles by a safety (286) and unassisted tackles by a safety (155).
Eddie Dunn – Running Back (1935-1939) – Class of 2009
Dunn played running back for UM from 1935-39 serving as team captain as a freshman and senior. He went on to coach the team for two years during World War II. In 1938, he played in the historic Miami-Florida game, scoring all three touchdowns in a 19-7 Miami win in the two teams’ first ever meeting on the gridiron. While playing running back for the Hurricanes, Dunn set several game, single-season and career records for rushing, scoring, and punt returns. He is generally considered the Hurricanes’ “first football hero”.
Steve Walsh – Quarterback (1987-89) – Class of 2009
Walsh played quarterback for Miami during the late 80’s, leading the `Canes to an undefeated regular season and national championship in 1987. The following season, Walsh was selected first-team All-American by the Associated Press, ESPN, and the Football Writers Association of America after passing for over 3,100 yards and 29 touchdowns. As a starter, Walsh went 23-1 for the Hurricanes and finished his career tied with Vinny Testaverde for the most touchdown passes in school history (48). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 1989 supplemental draft and played 11 seasons in the NFL for six different franchises.
Edgerrin James – Running Back (1996-1998) – Class of 2008
Edgerrn James the youngest of the class and cousin of current UM running back Javarris James, was named first team All-American in 1998 before he was taken in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. James, who currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals, has been selected to the NFL Pro Bowl on four occasions and has twice led the NFL in rushing.
Jim Kelly – Quarterback (1979-82) – Class of 2008
Jim Kelly earned All-America status in 1982. Inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, Kelly went on to enjoy a stellar pro football career that led to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002. After a short stint in the USFL after college, Kelly was drafted in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills and would go on to be selected to the NFL Pro Bowl on four occasions.
Cortez Kennedy – Defensive Tackle (1988-89) – Class of 2008
Cortez Kennedy was chosen in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Kennedy, an All-American at UM in 1989, played exclusively for the Seahawks at the professional level. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992, was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl on eight occasions and was named to the 1990’s NFL All-Decade Team. He retired from the league in 2000.
Jim Otto – Center (1957-59) – Class of 2008
Jim Otto was inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame in 1972. A 12-time Pro Bowl selection from 1961-72, Otto was taken in the first round of the 1960 AFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, a team he spent his entire career with until his retirement in 1974. A member of the AFL All-Time Team, Otto currently works in the front office of the Oakland Raiders.
Gino Torretta – Quarterback (1989-92) – Class of 2008
Gino Torretta was inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. As a senior, Torretta joined fellow UM quarterback Vinny Testaverde in elite company when he was awarded the 1992 Heisman Trophy. Also in 1992, Torretta won the Maxwell Award, the O’Brien Award, the Unitas Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. Torretta played in the NFL for six different clubs, retiring in 1997.
Ottis Anderson – Running Back (1975-78) – Class of 1999
Ottis Anderson became the first player in Miami history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season (1978). Anderson is the Hurricanes’ all-time career rushing leader (3,331) and thee times during his career posted single-season rushing totals that rank in the top 10 at Miami. He was a first-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Don Bosseler – Fullback (1953-56) – Class of 1999
Don Bossler finished his career with 1,642 rushing yards, which at the time ranked second all-time. Bosseler was an All-American and a first-round draft pick of the Washington Redskins. In 1990 he was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.
Bernie Kosar – Quarterback (1982-84) – Class of 1999
Bernie Kosar was instrumental in the University of Miami becoming known as ‘Quarterback U.’ Kosar guided the Hurricanes to their first of four National Championships in 1983. He holds the top spot on the UM single-season list for pass attempts (416), pass completions (262) and passing yards (3,642). In 1998 Kosar was inducted in the GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame.
Burgess Owens – Defensive Back (1970-72) – Class of 1999
Burgess Ownes finished his UM career with 160 tackles, eight interceptions, three fumble recoveries and All-American honors. He was named the most valuable player of the 1973 Senior Bowl and went on to be a first-round draft pick of the New York Jets.
#10 George Mira, Sr. – Quarterback (1961-63) – Class of 1997
Native of Key West, FL…two-time All-American (1962-63), “The Matador” led the `Canes to a pair of bowl games and set nearly every passing record at Miami…threw for 348 yards during a snow storm against Nebraska in Yankee Stadium’s 1962 Gotham Bowl…finished fifth in the 1962 Heisman balloting.
#42 Jim Dooley – Halfback (1949-51) – Class of 1997
A Miami native who was a 60-minute player, Dooley started both ways as a junior and senior…All-American in 1951 and first player to have jersey retired…set several season and career interception records and rushed for 147 yards on 27 attempts in 20-14 win over Florida in 1950…topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark in his Miami career.
#89 Ted Hendricks – Defensive End (1966-68) – Class of 1997
A native of Guatemala but raised in Miami, “The Mad Stork” became one of the most feared pass rushers in college football…UM’s only three-time All-American (1966, ’67 & ’68), Hendricks finished his Hurricane career as the leading all-time tackler and was voted fifth for the 1968 Heisman.
Vinny Testaverde – Quarterback (1982-86) – Class of 1997
A Elmont, NY native, Testaverde’s UM career was characterized by humility, patience, persistence, outstanding natural ability and a serious commitment toward team success… rewrote nearly every Miami passing and total offense record en route to winning UM’s first Heisman Trophy in 1986…he played in only one losing regular-season game and was a consensus All-America selection after serving for three years in a back-up capacity to Miami QB legends Jim Kelly and Bernie Kosar… completed 413 of 674 career passing attempts for 6,058 yards and 48 TDs in two years as the starting QB…led the Canes to back-to-back New Year’s Day bowl games at the Sugar and Fiesta Bowls.
