Mike Rumph

RUMPH’S CAREER BESTS:
Total Tackles – 12 (vs. West Virginia, 1999)
Solo – 12 (vs. West Virginia, 1999)
Assists – 5 (vs. Pittsburgh, 1999)
Pass Break Ups – 2 (3 times; last at West Virginia, 2000)
Interceptions – 2 (vs. West Virginia, 1999)

2001 (SENIOR): Exceptional coverage cornerback who quietly enjoyed a spectacular senior season…was overlooked by many observers because opponents rarely threw his way…on the rare occasions when opponents challenged Rumph, seldom were they successful…one of the most gifted big cornerbacks in college football…was the key figure in one of the nation’s most important plays of the 2001 college football season when he deflected a Boston College pass at the Miami five-yard line in the closing seconds of the game into the hands of teammate Matt Walters, who subsequently gave the ball to UM’s Edward Reed to complete a 90-yard scoring play for the clinching score in Miami’s 18-7 victory…was so effective at shutting down receivers that his statistical numbers seemed stark…earned the highest praise and respect of his coaches and opposing coaching staffs with his stellar play…started 40 games at cornerback for Miami, including the last 37 in a row dating back to the start of the 1999 season…in addition to his excellent cover skills, displayed an ability to rock opponents with physical play…made 31 tackles (21 solos) and broke up eight passes…made four tackles in the season opening 33-7 win at Penn State…had three stops, including two tackles for losses, against Rutgers…had two solo tackles in the win over Pittsburgh…had one stop versus Troy State…made two tackles in the win at Florida State…had two stops in Miami’s 45-3 win over West Virginia…made one tackle against Temple…had two stops against Boston College…had two tackles, including a bone-jarring hit on running back James Mungro, in the 59-0 win over Syracuse…had a season-high six tackles in each of the final two games of the regular season, a 65-7 win over Washington and a 26-24 win at Virginia Tech….shutout the opposing receiver in seven games, unofficially credited with allowing just five receptions all season in single coverage…named second-team All-BIG EAST by the league’s head coaches.

2000 (JUNIOR): Earned first-team All-BIG EAST honors as voted on by the league’s head coaches… named to the Watch List of the Jim Thorpe Award, recognizing college football’s outstanding defensive back… seventh on the team in tackles with 41 (31 solos) and broke up 10 passes (second on the team behind All-American Ed Reed)…returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown against Rutgers…had a season-high six tackles (all solos) and broke up two passes in the 47-10 win at West Virginia…had five tackles in three different games (at Washington, vs. Florida State and at Temple)…garnered four tackles in three different games (vs. Louisiana Tech, vs. Virginia Tech and vs. Pittsburgh)…registered seven tackles (six solos), broke up two passes and had a tackle for a loss in Miami’s 37-20 win over Florida in the Nokia Sugar Bowl.

1999 (SOPHOMORE): Named to the All-BIG EAST second team…started every game…ranked fourth on the team with 75 total tackles…his 52 solo stops ranked third among UM defenders…led the team with four interceptions and had four pass break ups… totaled five tackles, one interception and one pass break up in the season opening win over Ohio State in the Kickoff Classic…totaled eight tackles (7 solo) against Penn State…contributed four solo tackles at East Carolina…had nine tackles, including five solo, at Florida State…had eight tackles (7 solo) in UM’s comeback win at Boston College…had one of his best games as a Hurricane against the Mountaineers, with a career-high 12 tackles (all solo) and two interceptions…contributed 10 tackles and two pass break ups at Pittsburgh…finished with five tackles and an interception against Rutgers…had nine tackles against Syracuse…totaled three tackles in the regular season finale against Temple.

1998 (FRESHMAN): Emerged as a true freshman to appear in every game in the secondary, including three starts…named to The Sporting News Freshman All-America first team…was in the starting lineup for games against Rutgers, West Virginia and Boston College…one of two true freshmen to crack UM’s starting lineup in ’98…five pass break-ups ranked third on the team…tallied 20 tackles, including 13 solo stops…turned in a 10-tackle performance at West Virginia…made first collegiate start at Rutgers in place of an injured Leonard Myers…registered two tackles and two pass break-ups vs. the Scarlet Knights…made first collegiate interception in win over Pittsburgh…recorded only tackle for loss on the season against Florida State…forced a fumble in season-opener vs. East Tennessee State…first true freshman to start in the UM secondary since Nick Ward in 1995.

HIGH SCHOOL: Atlantic…National Recruiting Advisor All-American…rated No. 65 on the NRA Top 100 list…member of PrepStar Dream Team…SuperPrep National Top 50 players…SuperPrep All-American…Florida SuperPrep Top 15…named top defensive back by Street & Smith’s…Florida Times-Union Super 75 and Times-Union’s top rated safety in Florida…Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100…Tampa Tribune’s #69 national and #10 Florida…Orlando Sentinel Super Senior…St. Pete Times #6 Florida Blue Chipper…ESPN’s #65 national and #4 defensive back…earned USA Today honorable mention All-America status…named to the Florida Class 6A All-State first-team…listed in the Top 15 in the Southeast at position by First Down Recruiting…rated 14th best player in state by First Down Recruiting…named to Outback Steakhouse All-Star team…Florida North-South All-Star game participant…played wide receiver and free safety as the team captain in senior season…as a senior, gained 519 yards rushing and receiving with five touchdowns…totaled 108 tackles during senior season and had six interceptions for 172 yards with one returned 95 yards for a touchdown…also caused three fumbles…ran back a punt 75 yards for a touchdown…against Deerfield Beach, caught six passes for 167 yards…was an All-State second-team selection as a junior…timed at 4.47 in the 40…also lettered in basketball and track & field…coached by Veryl Floyd.

PERSONAL: Born 11/8/79…liberal arts major…full name is Michael Jamaine Rumph…chose Miami over Ohio State, Florida State and Florida…son of J. Michael Rumph.

RUMPH’S CAREER DEFENSIVE STATISTICS