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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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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI DEFENSIVE LINEMAN RUSSELL MARYLAND (LEFT) IN ACTION DURING THE HURRICANES 30-28 WIN OVER SAN DIEGO STATE AT JACK MURPHY STADIUM IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. MANDATORY CREDIT: STEPHEN DUNN/ALLSPOR
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI DEFENSIVE LINEMAN RUSSELL MARYLAND (LEFT) IN ACTION DURING THE HURRICANES 30-28 WIN OVER SAN DIEGO STATE AT JACK MURPHY STADIUM IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. MANDATORY CREDIT: STEPHEN DUNN/ALLSPOR /

13. Russell Maryland

Defensive tackle, 1987-1991

There are stories that are told about small-time recruits going on to dominate their sport. Russell Maryland is one of those stories. After graduating from a Chicago high school only the University of Miami offered him a scholarship. He jumped at the chance and became something special.

Maryland would play four years for the Hurricanes and win two National Championships during that span. His final record with the team would show just four losses to an unprecedented 44 wins. An even more impressive statistic is the fact that Maryland never lost a single game at home during his years with the Hurricanes

The 1990 season was one of the most dominant of any Hurricane in history. It was Maryland’s final year on campus and he made the most of it. He would finish the season with 10.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and seven tackles for loss. That would earn him first-team All-American honors. Maryland also became the first Hurricane to win the Outland Trophy for the nation’s best defensive lineman.

With the first overall selection in the 1991 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Maryland. He would go on to play ten years total, five with Dallas, four with Oakland and one with Green Bay. His career ended with only 24.5 sacks. An underwhelming career after such a dominant college career was disappointing.

Maryland is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. A school that has produced some notable defensive tackles, Maryland is one of the best and that 1990 season was one for the record books.

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