UM's 14 Year First Round Draft Streak Comes to an End

In 2008, the Miami Hurricane football team began a new chapter in their existence by switching their home playing field from the Orange Bowl to Dolphin Stadium. They also closed the history book on an unprecedented streak.

The first round of the 2009 draft, will be absent of a Miami Hurricane for the first time since 1994. The Canes currently have a 14 year streak that has no chance of survival of this year. No maybe’s, if’s or could be's. There will be a big goose egg in the UM college column of the draft board.

This doesn’t come as a surprise considering that Coach Shannon and the Hurricanes are in a rebuilding period, but the future is looking promising. Coach Shannon, two years into his own recruiting efforts, is stocking up the team for dominance. He had the top recruiting class his first year and in the top 10 his second year.

During the streak a total of 33 Canes were drafted, including six in 2005. No other college has had more players drafted since 1995 than the Hurricanes. No one has had six players drafted in any round, let alone the first round, but the Canes. They have supplied a consistent stream of All-Pro and future Hall of Fame players since 1995, like Warren Sapp, Ray Lewis, Edgerrin James, Reggie Wayne, Ed Reed, Santana Moss, Andre Johnson and Sean Taylor - just to name a few.

No other College has come close to achieving a streak of such longevity.

The Hurricanes look poised to begin an attempt at breaking their own record in 2010. Possible first round candidate:

RB, Graig Cooper – Cooper has improved his stock by rushing for 682 yards his freshman, 841 his sophomore year and averaging 882 total yards. If he continues the trend, he will break the 1,000 rushing yard mark and place himself in prime position for a first-round departure into the NFL.