Happy New Year, and New Decade, Canes fam!

With the 2010s in the rear view mirror, it’s time to take stock of the players Miami put on the field in the decade, and pick the All-Decade team!

Today, we’ll begin with the offense, and circle back to the defense tomorrow.

So here we go with the Miami Hurricanes All-Decade team for the 2010s. I’m sure you’ll all agree with my picks and nobody will have anything to say in the comments or have any different picks at all (/sarcasm). LOL

Miami Hurricanes 2010’s All-Decade Offense

Quarterback: Brad Kaaya

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Contrary to what you may have initially thought, there were only a couple players in contention for this spot. Miami only had a few QBs this decade, and primary among them is Brad Kaaya.

Miami’s all-time leading passer, Kaaya manned the position every week (except one, when he was recovering from a concussion) from 2014-2016. Kaaya ended his career with 9,968 yards with 69 TDs and 24 INTs. He threw for more than 3100 yards in each of his 3 seasons in Miami, and was named the 2014 ACC Rookie of the Year while also leading the conference in passing efficiency as well as touchdowns.

Yes, there’s a case to be made regarding Miami’s record while Kaaya was here, and also extolling the stats of others who played the position, but to me, Kaaya is the clear choice here.

Honorable mention: Stephen Morris, Jacory Harris

Running Back: Duke Johnson and Lamar Miller

Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

The list here starts with Duke Johnson. A 5-star recruit from Norland HS, Johnson burst onto the scene in 2012 and never looked back. A dynamic runner, receiver, and kick returner, Johnson did it all in HS, and continued that in college.

Like Kaaya, Johnson left Miami with an all-time career record: rushing yards. With 3,519 yards, no Canes RB has ever rushed for more yards than Johnson. When you also consider the fact that he had 26 rushing TDs, 714 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs, and nearly 1300 yards of kick returns, it’s easy to see why Johnson headlines this position on the All-Decade team.

Though he only played 2 years, Lamar Miller was a dynamic player in Miami’s backfield. He had 1,272 yards and 9 TDs as a redshirt sophomore in 2011 before leaving for the NFL. Miller continues to be one of the better RBs in the league to this day (when he’s not dealing with injuries). With nearly 2100 yards of total offense and 16 TDs in just 2 years, he earns a spot here.

Honorable mention: DeeJay Dallas, Mark Walton, Travis Homer

Wide Receiver: Leonard Hankerson, Allen Hurns, Phillip Dorsett, and Ahmmon Richards

A 1-year wonder (2010) this decade, Hankerson was a beast as a senior. 72 catches, 1156 yards, 13 TDs. That year stands on its own merits to earn him a spot on this list.

Allen Hurns had a similarly huge senior season. 62 catches, 1162 yards, 6 TDs in 2014. And, his total body of work — nearly 1900 yards, 14 TDs — in basically 3 seasons of actionearn him a spot here as well.

While he battled some injuries in college, Phillip Dorsett used his blazing speed to great advantage, too. With 2132 yards and 17 TDs to his record, Dorsett was able to put his name in the scorebook often. Add in his punt and kick return numbers — a combined 600+ yards — and that makes the case as well. Topping things off, Dorsett was a 1st roudn NFL Draft pick, which no other receiver this decade can say. And that counts for something.

Though his career was cut short by a career-ending neck injury, Ahmmon Richards was the truth on the field when he played. The Wellington native broke Michael Irvin’s freshman receiving yardage record — 934 yards in 2016 — and was on the fast track to being a 3-years-and-out high round draft pick. Unfortunately, Richards battled a hamstring injury as a sophomore and played in only 1 game as a junior before being medically disqualified from playing football, but even in the small glimpse we got, he earned a spot on this list.

And, for the record, this is the position at which Miami was arguably most talented in the 2010s. When you look at the list of honorable mention players (which could be longer, if I’m being honest), you’ll get what I mean.

Honorable Mention: Travis Benjamin, Stacy Coley, Rashawn Scott, Braxton Berrios, Jeff Thomas, K.J. Osborn

Tight End: David Njoku and Brevin Jordan

David Njoku was an athletic FREAK who was a dynamic player at Miami before becoming a 1st Round NFL Draft Pick.

Brevin Jordan was the best TE in the country in his recruiting class, and is the best TE in the country at the college level.

Easy choices, both.

Honorable mention: Clive Walford, Christopher Herndon IV

Offensive Line: Ereck Flowers, Jon Feliciano, Seantrel Henderson, Danny Isidora, Tyree St. Louis

Is this a sexy list? No.

Is this a pretty good list of players who almost all have or are making a career for themselves in the NFL? yes.

The guards — Feliciano and Isidora — were both long-term developmental recruits who panned out and earned 2nd team All-ACC honors before they left.

The tackles — Flowers, Henderson, and St. Louis — were all more highly touted recruits who had their ups and downs in college, but were largely average to good at the position (and better than others who manned this spot over the course of the last decade).

Honorable mention: Brandon Linder, Kc McDermott, Trevor Darling, Sunny Odogwu

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That’s my Canes All-Decade offense. Agree? Disagree? Talk it up in the comments!

Back tomorrow with the defense.

Go Canes