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Miami football: 25 greatest Hurricanes of all time

By Joe Romano

MIAMI - JANUARY 1: Defensive back Sean Taylor #26 of the Miami Hurricanes attempts to elude wide receiver P.K. Sam #4 of the Florida State Seminoles during the 2004 Orange Bowl game on January 1, 2004 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Hurricanes won 16-14. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
MIAMI - JANUARY 1: Defensive back Sean Taylor #26 of the Miami Hurricanes attempts to elude wide receiver P.K. Sam #4 of the Florida State Seminoles during the 2004 Orange Bowl game on January 1, 2004 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Hurricanes won 16-14. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 27: Ottis Anderson #24 of the New York Giants carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXV January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won the Super Bowl 20-19. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 27: Ottis Anderson #24 of the New York Giants carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXV January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won the Super Bowl 20-19. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

17. Ottis Anderson

Running Back, 1975-1978

A player like Willis McGahee makes this list for single-season dominance and ranking college athletes tend to gravitate towards that given the brevity of their career. There is another side of the coin and that is where a player like Ottis Anderson comes in.

Anderson played for Miami when the school was not the national name it currently is or was during the early 2000s. He joined the program when things where going array. Anderson played for three coaches during his time with the Hurricanes. His final season is what put his name on the map. He was the first Hurricanes running back to rush for 1000 yards. He held the all-time rushing record in a career until 2014 when Duke Johnson overtook him. Anderson’s 3331 yards is still second to Johnson today.

Unfortunately, Anderson would leave before the arrival of Schnellenberger. It was a year after Anderson left for the NFL where he was selected eighth overall by the St. Louis Cardinals. His NFL career was equally, if not more, successful than his collegiate one. Anderson would constantly battle injuries and barely played in his first Super Bowl win for the Giants. However once Bill Parcells took over Anderson rose back to prominence, won Comeback Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP. By the time he retired he was top-ten in total rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

His name may not immediately pop into your head when you think of great Miami Hurricanes football players but no list would be complete without him. Ottis Anderson was a phenomenal collegiate running back and deserves to be acknowledged as such.

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