Fansided

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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7 Oct 2000: Dan Morgan #44 of the Miami Hurricanes gets ready for action during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Hurricanes defeated the Seminoles 27-24.Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport
7 Oct 2000: Dan Morgan #44 of the Miami Hurricanes gets ready for action during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Hurricanes defeated the Seminoles 27-24.Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport /

15. Dan Morgan

Linebacker, 1997-2000

The period of 1996-1998 was a rough one for recruiting for the Miami Hurricanes. NCAA officials levied penalties that took away scholarships from the team for issues that stemmed from self-reported violations in 1991. Those recruiting classes were bare bones but did feature some special players. Atop those lists were linebacker Dan Morgan.

Morgan became the first freshman to start at linebacker since Ray Lewis four years earlier. It did not take long for him to make an impact as he led the team in tackles in 1997, his freshman season. That earned him second-team freshman All-American honors. He followed that up by another season of leading the team in tackles, being named a captain and being named second-team All-Big East.

In his junior season, Morgan stamped out just how incredibly his college career would be. He once again led the team in tackles, was named All-Big East. However, now he was being recognized nationally as a finalist for the Butkus and Nagurski awards, given to the best defensive players and linebackers in college football.

Morgan’s senior season was a special one. He became the first player in NCAA history to win the Butkus Award, Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award. Those came with a unanimous first-team All-American selection, All-Big East first team and Big East Defensive Player of the Year. It is amazing that at a school that produced possibly the best linebacker in football history, Ray Lewis, that Dan Morgan is the most decorated.

Morgan would go on to seven seasons in the NFL. Injuries plagued that majority of his career. 2004 was his best year where he went to the Pro Bowl and was an All-Pro. He was part of the 2001 Panthers team that lost to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

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