Canes Fantasy Draft: Which Former Cane Would put the 2020 Team Over the Top?

First and foremost I hope everyone is safe at home with their families, and that Miami football can still be an escape this fall when hopefully we get back to normal.

Through the quarantine I have spent a lot of time watching old games, all while thinking about how special the 2020 season can be. The Canes have a lot of talent returning, and with a new system and new QB, the expectations will only grow as we get closer to the 2020 campaign.

Miami does have some weaknesses on the football team, so I thought it would be fun to have a chance to draft someone from the Canes past onto this year’s team. Think of the endless possibilities of bringing a Miami great and inserting them onto the 2020 Canes.

The Candidates

Warren Sapp – Sapp is one of the most dominating Miami Hurricanes of All-Time, and his 1994 campaign is one for the ages. Sapp finished 6^th in the Heisman voting, and wrecked opposing offensive lines to the tune of 10.5 sacks. His personality is all Miami, and in the 2020 penetrating scheme, Sapp could put up 12-15 sacks from the DT position.

Michael Irvin – Miami could use an influx of Playmaking at Wide Receiver and no one did more of that at Miami than Irvin. Imagine giving D’Eriq King a weapon like Irvin on the outside in one on one matchups, it would be unfair. Irvin finished his Miami career with 2423 yards and 26 TDs in just 3 years.

Ray Lewis – No disrespect to Zach McCloud, who I think will do a fine job at MLB this season, but Ray Lewis is one of the All-Timers at Miami. He started as a true freshman and by the time he left school he was one of the most feared players in college football. Can you imagine Lewis’ intensity permeating throughout the locker room in 2020? Can you see any kids quitting, or moping if Ray was around, yeah me neither?

Bryant McKinnie – The best offensive lineman in Canes history, and one of the greatest college lineman ever. McKinnie put together a dominating season in 2001, where he gave up no sacks and completely dominated Dwight Freeney in a Miami blowout over a ranked Syracuse team. Zion Nelson would no longer be counted on if Mount McKinnie was to man the LT spot.

Willis McGahee – Willis should’ve won the Heisman in 2002 after putting up an astronomical 2108 yards from scrimmage with 28 total TDs. In Rhett Lashlee’s up-tempo spread, imagine having a back with McGahee’s speed and power with some enormous lanes to run through. Willis also was a very good receiver out of the backfield and could create some matchup nightmares.

Ed Reed - Miami will have a very good safety group with Bubba Bolden and Gurvan Hall leading the way. Think how much better Miami would be on defense with Ed Reed in center field. Reed was the emotional leader for the 2000 and 2001 Canes, and everyone remembers his passionate speech at halftime of the FSU game in 2001. Reed always came up with huge plays at the right time and would add an additional element to the Miami secondary.

The possibilities are endless with the amount of talent that has come through Coral Gables over the history of the program. I could make a 200 player list, but these were the 1^st six who popped into my head.

Who would you draft and put onto this year’s team?

I would take Bryant McKinnie and feel great about having the best LT in program history protecting the blindside for D’Eriq King, but all of the other choices would make the 2020 Canes even better.