Canes Come in at No. 19 in Athlon Sports Preseason Top 25

CORAL GABLES, Fla.— Athlon Sports is in the process of releasing its preseason Top 25 for the 2011 season and the magazine has tabbed the Hurricanes as the No. 19 team in the country heading into head coach Al Golden’s first season.

The magazine also announced that two Canes made its All-America team, while nine were selected for All-ACC honors. UM was also predicted to finish second in the ACC’s Coastal Division.

The countdown had already gone through Missouri (25), Texas (24), Wisconsin (23), Michigan State (22), South Carolina (21) and USC (20) before getting to Miami at No. 19. It will pick back up on Wednesday and run into the early part of June when magazines are slated to hit the newsstands.

“Miami fans should be excited with the hire of Al Golden,” Athlon Sports managing editor Mitch Light said. “He will do a quality job with the Hurricanes’ talented roster, although a brutal schedule may keep that elusive Coastal title out of Coral Gables for another year.”

LINK TO ATHLON’S MIAMI PREVIEW

In addition to Miami’s No. 19 ranking as a team, Miami standouts Brandon Washington and Ray-Ray Armstrong earned All-America honors. Washington made the second team on the offensive line, while Armstrong earned third string honors as a safety.

Nine Hurricanes earned preseason All-ACC honors, including Washington, Armstrong and linebacker Sean Spence on the first team. Offensive linemen Tyler Horn and Seantrel Henderson, defensive lineman Olivier Vernon and safety Vaughn Telemaque were named to the second team, while running back Lamar Miller and defensive lineman Marcus Forston garnered third-team honors.

Spence will don the cover of the Miami Atlantic Coast regional edition cover when Athlon Sports’ preseason magazines hit retail locations beginning June 1.