Portis Named to ACC Class of Football Legends
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami running back Clinton Portis was one of 14 former student-athletes named to the 2015 Atlantic Coast Conference Class of Football Legends on Tuesday.
Portis, along with the 13 other honorees from the ACC, will be recognized at the ACC Night of Legends presented by the Belk Bowl on Friday, Dec. 4, and during the on-field pregame festivities at the 11th annual Dr. Pepper ACC Football Championship in Charlotte, N.C.
Portis, who played for the Hurricanes from 1999-2001, became just the second true freshman to start at running back for Miami in 1999. He set a school freshman record with five 100-yard performances, and led the team with 838 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries (5.9 yards per carry) in 10 games during his first year in the Orange and Green.
His 1,200 yards rushing during the 2001 national championship season was then the third-highest single-season rushing yardage total in Miami history. He still ranks fifth on the Hurricanes’ all-time career rushing list with 2,523 yards.
Portis went on to a stellar professional career after he was selected by Denver in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft.
During his first year in Denver, Portis earned league Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He amassed 9,923 rushing yards and 75 touchdowns in nine seasons – two with the Broncos and seven with the Washington Redskins. He retired as the 27th all-time leading rusher in NFL history.
