Monday ProCanes Report: Graham Hauls in Two
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. In the midst of another dominant season, New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham exploded for two more touchdowns and eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the second season in his career during a Sunday night romp of divisional rival Carolina. Panthers tight end Greg Olsen had eight catches in the loss, while Jets’ veteran Kellen Winslow added a team-high 61 receiving yards in another big weekend for #TightEndU.
Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers) – 17 carries, 110 yards
Veteran running back Frank Gore delivered a knockout blow in San Francisco’s 19-17 win over Seattle, scrambling for 51 yards to help set up the 49ers’ winning drive in the fourth quarter. Gore, who recorded his third 100-yard game of the season in the win, brought his season total to 931 yards. With 69 more rushing yards over the final three games of San Francisco’s season, Gore would eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth time in his nine-year career – marking the third straight 1,000-yard season for the Coral Gables native. Gore is just 230 yards short of becoming the 29th running back all-time and second #ProCane to rush for over 10,000 yards.
Video Highlights: Knockout Blow
Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints) – six catches, 58 yards, two touchdowns
There isn’t a tight end in the NFL having a better season than Jimmy Graham, who delivered another explosive performance in New Orleans’ 31-13 win over Carolina Sunday night at the Superdome. Graham hauled in two more touchdowns from quarterback Drew Brees – bringing his league-high total to 14 – while recording his fifth multi-touchdown game of the season. In the victory With last night’s performance, Graham is now the only tight end to have eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark this season (1,046), while his 74 receptions tie for ninth-most among all pass catchers in the league.
Video Highlights: Redzone Target | Reaching for Six
Andre Johnson (Houston Texans) – 13 catches, 154 yards
His team might be in a free-fall, but that hasn’t stopped Andre Johnson from delivering another Pro Bowl-worthy campaign for the Houston Texans. Johnson added to his historic lead on career 10-catch, 100-yard games Thursday night in Houston’s loss to Jacksonville, hauling in 13 catches and 154 yards. With the performance, he matched all-time great Jerry Rice in 10-catch, 150-yard games with the 10th such performance of his career. Johnson, who recently surpassed 900 receptions in his career, ranks third in the NFL with 1,277 receiving yards this season.
Video Highlights: Week 14 Andre Compilation
Olivier Vernon (Miami Dolphins) – 10 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss
Miami’s second-year defensive end Olivier Vernon has enjoyed a breakout season for the Dolphins defense, and his strong run of play continued Sunday in a 23-3 win over divisional rival New York. Vernon, who recorded two sacks in last week’s defeat to Carolina, was credited a career-high 2.5 takedowns of Jets’ quarterback Geno Smith to bring him to double-digit sacks on the season. Vernon has easily surpassed his rookie year totals with 46 tackles (32 last season) and 10.0 sacks (3.5), and has at least one sack in seven of the Dolphins’ 12 games. Vernon ranks fifth on the team in tackles and first in sacks.
Video Highlights: Redzone Sack | Ferocious Takedown
TheUFootball.com #ProCanes Interview: Leonard Hankerson
(interview conducted by Max Strauss)
HurricaneSports.com: What does #NFLU mean to you?
Leonard Hankerson: “It means a lot. Everybody goes back there that came through The U. You see a ton of players drafted in the first round, second round, third round, throughout the whole draft. There are a ton of players everybody goes back there and works out there. It is like a family, and that’s the great thing about it. You can have a young guy who are there now look up to the players that are still in the league. Us players that are still playing are able to go back there and work out, and answer questions for those guys to get a chance to see how it is and get some insight.”
HS.com: You and #ProCanes legend Santana Moss both play wide receiver for the Redskins – what is your relationship with him like?
LH: “Santana is an awesome guy. It is fun playing with him. He is one of the guys that I look up to each and every day. He always comes to work prepared. What I see from him is the reason why he has been playing in this league for thirteen years. I will be blessed if I am even able to get to year ten. I’m taking after what he does, he’s just great.”
HS.com: Do you have any favorite memories from your time as a Hurricane?
LH: “Being a Hurricane is a tremendous memory in and of itself. It was a good time there. I graduated from the University of Miami and that was a top priority of mine. But also, just going out on the field and running through that tunnel putting on that orange and green – it’s a great memory.”
