Part of Miami’s struggles for the past decade or so has been finding a quarterback who can help win games. However, throughout Miami’s history which includes five national championships, UM has had plenty of exceptional quarterbacks. Let’s go ahead and build Miami’s perfect quarterback room.

What makes a great quarterback?

1. Ability to read the field
2. Footwork
3. Accuracy
4. Ability to evade the rush
5. Ability to be the leader of the offense

Here is Miami’s perfect QB room:

Ken Dorsey

Dorsey had an exemplary career at The U, as he finished as the winningest QB in program history, as he posted a sparkling 38-2 record as a Cane. Dorsey was a key cog on arguably the greatest team in college football history. He helped Miami win its fifth national title in 2001, which capped off a phenomenal undefeated season. He won the Maxwell Award (awarded to the best player in college football) in 2001, along with being a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in both 2001 and 2002. Dorsey left Miami as the record holder for touchdowns (86), and passing yards (9,565) for both UM and the BIG EAST. Dorsey was the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year in ‘01 and ‘02 (he shared the honor with teammate Willis McGahee this year). He finished his illustrious career as three-time First-Team All-BIG EAST and as a Hurricane legend.

Vinny Testaverde

Testaverde had a distinguished career as the first ever Hurricane to take home the Heisman Trophy in 1986. The UM Sports Hall of Famer won the same esteemed awards as Torretta, along with being a consensus First Team All-American. Testaverde threw for 3,238 yards and 26 touchdowns in his Heisman winning season, and finished his career with 6,058 yards and 48 touchdowns. By the time Vinny left UM, he finished with a 21-1 regular season record, and he was tied with Steve Walsh for the most touchdown passes in UM history (48).

Bernie Kosar

Kosar was instrumental in helping the Canes win their first ever national championship, a win which helped lay the foundation for many more UM national titles. Kosar was incredible in the Orange Bowl game against Nebraska, as he threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns. He left UM with 5,971 yards and 40 touchdowns, and as a UM Sports Hall of Famer. He’ll always be remembered for bringing the first ever national title to Coral Gables.

Jim Kelly

Kelly played at UM right before they started winning championships, but he was crucial in getting Miami to where it is today. Kelly helped lead UM to two foundational upsets over Penn State, once in his first college start at State College, and then again when PSU was ranked no. 1 in 1981. Kelly got UM back to a bowl game for the first time in 14 seasons, where he won MVP of the Peach Bowl. While the QB never played for a national championship, he laid the groundwork for five national titles after he left UM. Kelly maybe didn’t have the accolades of some of the QBs left off this list, but if Kelly didn’t go to Miami, there might never have been a QBU in Coral Gables.

Honorable Mentions: Craig Erickson, Gino Torretta, Steve Walsh

UM’s all-time position room is so loaded that these national championship winners didn’t even make the list. They still deserve a mention, as they’d make it at almost any other school in the country.