Monday Pro Canes Report: McGahee Joins NFL Elite
Dec. 26, 2011
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The Monday Morning ProCanes Report will weed through all the NFL highlights and news to bring you the information you care about the most… what the former University of Miami Hurricanes did during the week prior. After Reggie Wayne extended the touchdown streak with his dominant performance on Thursday night, running back Willis McGahee joined the ranks of the NFL elite in his team’s Saturday matchup with Buffalo. When the dust settled on another weekend of football, three regulars to the Pro Canes report had found the back of the endzone to stretch the new touchdown streak to five consecutive weeks (and 154 of the last 155): Wayne, Frank Gore and Jeremy Shockey.
Willis McGahee (Denver Broncos) – 15 carries, 64 yards
With a 24-yard run early in the first quarter, Willis McGahee joined Ricky Watters as the only players in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards with three different teams (Buffalo, Baltimore, Denver). The ninth-year pro, who hadn’t eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark since his first season in Baltimore (2007), has enjoyed a career resurgence in the Mile High City, where he now ranks fifth among NFL running backs with at least 200 attempts in average yards per carry (4.8 yards).
Video highlights: 1,000-yard clincher
Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts): 8 receptions, 106 yards, 1 touchdown
Entering their Thursday night showdown with division-leading Houston in Week 16, the 1-13 Colts were considered massive underdogs at home. Thanks to a standout performance from Reggie Wayne, including the game-winning touchdown catch with 23 seconds left in the contest, the Colts eked out a surprising 19-16 victory. His 106-yard output marked the third 100-yard game of the year for Wayne, who, despite playing 2011 without the help of starting quarterback Peyton Manning, is only 113 yards short of his eighth-straight 1,000-yard season.
Video highlights: Game-winning TD | 34-yard catch
Vince Wilfork (New England Patriots): 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
Down 17-0 at home to the Miami Dolphins at halftime, the Patriots needed their hobbled defense to take charge. When Dolphins’ quarterback Matt Moore bobbled a snap early in the third quarter, the Patriots defense jumped on the opportunity, and it was their Pro Bowl nose tackle Wilfork who left the pile emerging with the pigskin. It was the second recovery of the season and eighth of his career for Wilfork, who jump-started a Patriots defense that helped turn the 17-point deficit into a 27-24 victory that sealed a first-round bye for New England.
Video highlights: Fumble recovery
Only one game remains on Week 16 slate, but it’s a big one for the Pro Canes. Four Hurricanes will take the field in New Orleans’ (Jimmy Graham, Jonathan Vilma) divisional showdown with Atlanta (Matt Bosher, Spencer Adkins) on Monday Night Football (ESPN, 8:30 p.m). With two games to play, Graham is only 120 yards short of breaking the 31-year old single-season NFL record for yards by a tight end.
Heading into the NFL opening week, UM led all colleges with 42 alums on active NFL Rosters.
For all the most up-to-date information on Canes in the NFL, make sure you bookmark ProCanes.com.
