Four Football Players Join @MiamiTrack
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Four University of Miami football players will trade in their cleats for track spikes this spring.
Artie Burns, Phillip Dorsett, Josh Johnson and Walter Tucker will compete for the Hurricanes track and field team. Dorsett and Johnson will run sprints, while Burns and Tucker will join the hurdlers.
“Miami’s had a long history of football players becoming excellent track athletes,” Miami director of track & field and cross country Amy Deem said. “We are glad to continue that tradition with this group. What is especially exciting is that Phillip, Artie, Walter and Josh come from strong, successful high school track programs that can help us in building our men’s program into a national power.”
Dorsett returns for a second season with Miami track after making a significant impact in 2013. TheFort Lauderdale, Fla., native placed third in 60m (6.80) at the 2013 New Mexico Classic, running the fourth-fastest time in Miami history. Dorsett finished fourth in the men’s long jump at the 2013 ACC Indoor Championships with a jump of 7.36m, third-best in Miami history. Dorsett also posted the third-fastest men’s indoor 200m time in Miami history, running a 21.09 at the 2013 New Mexico Classic. A wide receiver for the Hurricanes, Dorsett averaged over 20 yards per reception and scored two touchdowns in his junior season.
Burns and Tucker were freshmen who contributed on the football field in 2013 and they are expected to shine on the track, as well.
Burns was a three-time Class 3A state champion in the 110m hurdles for Miami Northwestern High School. As a junior in high school, Burns posted the fastest 110m and 300m hurdles times in the nation. The true freshman played cornerback for the Hurricanes this past season, collecting his first career interception. Burns also made an impact on special teams, averaging 26.1 yards per kick return, blocking a field goal and forcing a fumble.
Tucker is a two-time Class 2A state champion in the 110m hurdles for American Heritage School. Tucker was the 2013 2A State runner-up in the 300m hurdles and finished his senior season ranked No. 11 in the nation in the 110m hurdles. On the football field, Tucker played special teams and got snaps at fullback for the Hurricanes.
Johnson completes the foursome of football players running track this season for the Hurricanes. The freshman ran sprints at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., and will do the same for the Canes. Johnson was a member of Miami’s scout team, serving as a wide receiver.
The quartet joins a long line of football players who were standouts for Miami’s track & field program. Stars such as Santana Moss, Ed Reed, Vince Wilfork, Bennie Blades and Horace Copeland are just a handful of Miami football players who were impact performers for the Hurricane track & field program. Currently, five indoor school records and nine outdoor school records are held by former Miami football players.
For all the latest information on the Miami Hurricanes, follow the official Twitter feed, @HurricaneSports, or “Like Us” on Facebook at facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes. Follow @MiamiTrack on Twitter for specific news on UM track and field and cross country. For the most accurate and up to date information delivered to your phone, download the official Miami Hurricanes app for your Droid or iPhone.
