“Gold Teeth to Gold Jacket”

The University of Miami better known as “The U” has been a powerhouse football institution. Look at the list of well-known names that have attended that school. Warren Sapp, Reggie Wayne, Jim Kelly, Michael Irvin, Ed Reed, the late Sean Taylor, and Ray Lewis. A running back named Edgerrin James also attended this legendary university. In the last two years, two members of the alumni have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Ray Lewis went in on the first ballot in 2018 as expected and last year, Ed Reed joined him by getting in on the first ballot. This year, another Hurricane is going in. Former running back Edgerrin James will be inducted in Canton during the Summer.

He’s one of the most successful running backs in the history of the Miami Hurricanes. The Indianapolis Colts selected James with the fourth overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. Many people felt the Colts made a mistake by drafting him instead of kHeisman Trophy winner, Ricky Williams. The Colts always found ways for him to get the ball. They would establish him up the middle and he had the elusiveness to bounce outside to escape for more yards. Not only was he that threat in the ground attack, but Edge would also make defenses worry about his ability to catch as a receiver. I always admired his quickness to get away, plant the foot to cut on a dime to shift away and he could run through people which I thought was the most underrated part of his game.

He won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1999. He silenced all his critics by winning the rushing title in his first two seasons in the league. James spent the first seven seasons of his career in Indianapolis Colts. Edge left Indianapolis as the Colts all-time leading rusher with 9,226 yards. He also has the most career rushing touchdowns in franchise history with 64 and the most 1,000-yard seasons with five. James also played for the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. He announced his retirement from the NFL in 2011.