Honorable Mention: Vernon Carey (Dolphins), Devon Hester (Bears), Clinton Portis (Redskins), Jeremy Shockey (Saints), Willis McGahee (Ravens), D.J. Williams (Broncos), Kellen Winslow (Bucs), Chris Myers (Texans)

It is discouraging nobody on this list played at Miami in the last five years. That’s a sign Miami’s program needs to make some changes, but that’s for another article.

The following are the top ten Canes in the NFL today, at this moment in time. It’s where they currently are in their careers, not the entire career itself.

Top 10 NFL Canes as of November 4, 2010

10. Santana Moss, Redskins – Moss was one of the most dangerous wideouts in Canes history. He made just as big a impact in the return game as he did on offense.

In the NFL, he has provided great consistency and ranks among the better wideouts out there. He is on pace for a career high 96 receptions this year. Not many get in and out of their cuts as quickly as Santana.

9. Antrel Rolle, Giants – He has the versatility to play safety and corner. He’s big and he can tackle. He was a great pickup for the Giants this summer and plays on one of the best defenses in football.

8. Bryant McKinnie, Vikings – This mountain of a man has owned the Vikings’ left tackle spot for what seems like decades. Sure he’s lost a step at 31, but he is still a disruptive force up front when he wants to be.

7. Jon Vilma, Saints – He might not be as powerful of a hitter as Ray Lewis, but who is? What he lacks in flair he makes up for with smarts and sound mechanics. He’s a disciplined, instinctive linebacker who is rarely out of position.

6. Vince Wilfork, Patriots - Vince is arguably the best nose tackle in football. He is a mainstay on the Patriots defensive line and does an excellent job at filling the gaps at the point of attack with his behemoth 325-pound frame.

And that’s a very generous listing. I remember during his days at “The U” they would leave him in all game even with 30-point leads to get him in better shape.

5. Reggie Wayne, Colts – How’s this for Wayne’s legacy? He will go down as one of the greatest to ever play. Period.

Sure Peyton Manning helps, but he has over 10,000 yards in his NFL career and hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. He owns some of the best hands in the game.

4.  Frank Gore, 49ers - The man who once averaged nine yards a carry as a Miami freshman has becomes one of the NFL’s premiere running backs. He has had some issues with injuries over the years but looks to be back on the track of stardom. He has become a complete back and is on pace for a career high 76 receptions this season.

3. Ray Lewis, Ravens – Flat out the greatest linebacker to ever play the game at the pro level. It’s good his time in the NFL will be coming to an end in a few years, although he hasn’t dropped off, because of the more sensitive rule changes regarding hard hits. There wasn’t and probably never will be a more ferocious terror roaming the middle of the field.

2. Ed Reed, Ravens - “2-0 E-Reed boy, knock you off ya feet boy”. My favorite line from the song Ballin Boys-Hurricane Remix by No Good.

Just as Lewis is the most dangerous linebacker of his time, Reed makes a great case at safety. There isn’t a bigger playmaker in the secondary in football. He is a ballhawk and his 48 career interceptions prove it.

He missed the first six games of this season due to injury and there were whispers that Reed’s best days were over. Well nobody told him that. Last week in his return to the gridiron he proved the doubters wrong with two picks.

He also is an incredible runner with the ball and probably could have been an All-Pro running back or receiver.

1. Andre Johnson, Texans - Standing at 6’3″, 225, there isn’t a more imposing physical specimen at receiver in the league. He has the speed to beat you deep and the smarts and route running to carve you up underneath. If he isn’t double teamed he is going to beat you, and even if he is there’s no certainty you’re shutting him down.

He’s also a no-nonsense type of player who doesn’t attract attention to himself for the wrong reasons. With AJ, it’s strictly business. He’s had over 1500 yards and 100 receptions each of the last two seasons.

The Miami Hurricane Sports Hall Of Fame has announced its Class of 2011 and Miami football legends Dan Morgan, Santana Moss, and Reggie Wayne are among those honored.

All three were members of the team that smoked the Florida Gators in the 2001 Sugar Bowl 37-20 after getting snubbed out of the National Championship in favor of Florida State, a team they beat during the season. All three were also first-round picks in the 2001 NFL Draft.

Dan Morgan - Morgan will forever be known as one of the greatest players in the history of college football. He won every award a defensive player could possibly win after his senior season, winning the Butkus, Nagurski, and Bednarik Awards as well as being named a Consensus First-team All-American. He also has the Miami school and Big East conference records for career tackles with an amazing 532! He’s a great guy and my interview with him can be seen here. He currently works for WQAM.

Santana Moss – Moss was one of the most electric players in Canes history. The former walk-on graduated as the schools all-time leader in receiving yards (2,546), punt return yards (1,196), and all-purpose yards (4,394). When Moss had the ball in his hands, all eyes were locked. He currently plays for the Washington Redskins.

Reggie Wayne - Wayne was a four-year starter at Miami and set a school record with 173 career catches. He set a freshman record with 48 receptions as well. Wayne has gone on to become one of the best Canes at the next level registering 10,034 yards and 66 touchdowns in his ongoing 10-year career with the Indianapolis Colts.

Ken Dorsey (2000 – 2002)

Everyone remembers Kosar, Testaverde, and Kelly as the premiere Canes’ quarterbacks, but what about Dorsey? Sure he looked like he ate a pretzel a day and then never made it big in the NFL, but you cannot ignore the facts. He played in two national championships, winning one and losing the other on the worst called penalty in the history of football. He passed for 8,758 yards. 76 touchdowns, and posted an absurd 38-2 record during his three years as starter. Who cares if he couldn’t sling the ball on a rope sixty yards down field. Dorsey was a gamer, a pure winner.

Runningback -

Willis McGahee

This was brutal choice. My main argument is this: Nobody put more fear into a defense than McGahee did during the 2002 season when he rushed for 1,753 yards (6.2 avg),  28 touchdowns, and had eight 100-yard games (All Hurricane records). Every time he touched the ball he was a threat to go the distance due to his rare combination of strength and explosiveness. If he didn’t get his knee shredded like a block of cheese in the 2002 National Championship, he might be the best back in the NFL today.

Edgerrin James

Edgerrin James was dominant for multiple seasons in Coral Gables, as he was the only Canes back to have two consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus rushing yards, and he ranks first in school history with the most 100-yard rushing games (14). He also still holds the record for rushing yards in a game with 299, which has a good chance of never being broken.

Fullback

Alonzo Highsmith (1984 – 1986)

The father to current Miami backup QB A.J. Highsmith was a 235 pound bull for the old school, fatigue-clad Canes. He won a national title in 2003 over Nebraska.

Wide Receiver

Michael Irvin (1984 – 1987) Irvin finished his career at “The U” with 143 receptions, 2,423 yards and 26 touchdowns(Best all time). He was known for his flash just as much as his playmaking ability and goes down as one of the greatest Canes ever.

Santana Moss (1997 – 2000) Moss narrowly edges out Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne because he was the total package. The former walk-on graduated as the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards (2,546), punt return yards (1,196), and all-purpose yards (4,394). He was as dangerous in the return game as anyone in the history of college football and was a threat to take it to the house any time he touched the rock.

Tight End

Jeremy Shockey (2000 – 2001) Shock was a critical part of the 2001 National Championship team, one of the best teams in the history of college football. He possessed the unique mix of size and speed to beat any matchup the defense threw at him.

Tackles

Bryant McKinnie (2000 – 2001)

Leon Searcy (1988 – 1991)

Guards

Chris Myers (2001 – 2003)

Martin Bibla (1998 – 2001)

Center

Jim Otto (1957-1959)

Returner

Devin Hester (2004-2005) The fastest man in Miami Hurricane history with six career touchdowns off returns. He never really fit in on either side of the ball, but his role as a dominant force in the return game made him a game changer. He goes down as one of the most dangerous players in college football history.

Check out the Hurricane’s All-Time Defense HERE