National Award Winners: No. 78 Bryant McKinnie

2001 OUTLAND TROPHY WINNER

• Joined Russell Maryland (1990) as an Outland Trophy winner given annually to the nation’s top lineman.

• Capped an impressive career when he beat out Nebraska offensive guard Toniu Fonoti and 2000 Outland Trophy winner John Henderson of Tennessee for the award.

• McKinnie, a 6-foot-9, 336-pound senior from Woodbury, N.J., never allowed a sack during his college career and anchored a line which averaged 5.5 yards per rushing attempt on the way to an undefeated season and the national championship. 

• Hallmark performance came when he dominated Syracuse All-America defensive end Dwight Freeney in Miami’s 59-0 victory, holding Freeney without a quarterback sack in 52 plays, setting the pace for an offense that rushed for a season-best 331 yards and accumulated 566 yards against the Orangemen.

• Played two seasons after transferring from Lackawanna Junior College prior to sitting out the 1999 season as a redshirt.

• Made a name for himself in Miami’s 27-24 victory over Florida State at the Orange Bowl when he shut down FSU’s Jamal Reynolds who managed just one assisted tackle in the game. Reynolds was a first-team All-American, the Lombardi winner and a first-round NFL draft pick.