Perryman Proud to Represent The U, Gables
By David Villavicencio
HurricaneSports.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes have a long tradition of homegrown talent showcasing itself on the football field.
Canes legends like Michael Irvin, Sean Taylor, Jonathan Vilma, Santana Moss and Bennie Blades are just a handful of South Florida natives who shined while donning Miami’s orange and green.
Over the course of the 2014 season, HurricaneSports.com will honor a Hurricane football player with South Florida ties as the Milam’s Market Homegrown Athlete of the Week. This week’s player spotlight is on Coral Gables native Denzel Perryman.
Few are prouder to be Miami Hurricanes more than Denzel Perryman.
The Coral Gables, Fla., native cannot help but smile whenever he talks about his school and its football team.
One of the most powerful hitters in college football, Perryman is a fierce competitor and a true leader of the Hurricane defense. But watch him take off his helmet on the sideline after a big play to stop an opponent and you’re sure to see a big grin followed by encouraging words for his fellow defenders.
An All-America honorable mention selection by SI.com, Perryman started all 13 games at outside linebacker in 2013. The 6-foot, 242-lb. linebacker led the team with 108 total tackles, including 69 solo stops, and had six games with 10+ tackles.
His stellar play was recognized across the league and the country, as Perryman was tabbed a first-team All-ACC selection by ACSMA and the ACC head coaches. He was a second-team All-ACC choice by Athlon Sports and an All-ACC selection by The Sporting News. Perryman also was named the 2013 Defensive MVP and earned the 2013 Hard Hitter Award at the Hurricanes’ postseason awards banquet.
While he is an outstanding player week in and week out, Perryman has a propensity for playing his best in big games. He tallied 13 tackles and a forced fumble in Miami’s 21-16 win over No. 12/9 Florida on Sept. 6, 2013, earning ACC Linebacker of the Week for his huge performance against the Gators.
Perryman also recorded a game-high 11 tackles in a win over Georgia Tech and collected 12 tackles in Miami’s come-from-behind road win at North Carolina—seven of which came in first half. The star linebacker led the Canes with 11 tackles and a tackle for loss at Florida State and he recorded a career-high 15 tackles – including 10 solo stops – and 1.5 sacks against Virginia Tech.
The senior will lead the Canes defense against a familiar opponent on Sept. 1. Miami opens with Louisville in the Cardinals’ first game since joining the ACC in July. The two teams squared off in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Dec. 28, 2013, with Perryman recorded four solo tackles in the game.
Perryman, who hails from Coral Gables High School – the same high school that produced linebacker Jonathan Vilma, running back Frank Gore and linebacker Darryl Sharpton – will look to step up in the big game like he has so many times before and lead the Hurricanes in their season opener.
