Three Miami Hurricanes True Freshmen All-American By ESPN

Three Miami Hurricanes have been named to ESPN’s True Freshman All-American team by ESPN. Wide Receiver Ahmmon Richards and Linebackers Shaq Quarterman and Michael Pinckney were selected.

Richards led all Freshman nationally in yards receiving and yards per catch. He finished the season with 866 yards on 46 receptions for two touchdowns. He also led the Hurricanes in receiving yards and yards per catch. In the process, Richards broke Michael Irvin’s 31 year old school record for receiving yards by a freshman.

In their post about the team, ESPN said of Richards: “Richards quickly became a go-to deep threat with the speed to take the top off the defense. One of the bigger freshman surprises of the year, he will head into bowl season with 46 receptions and two touchdowns.” He finished fourth in the ACC Rookie of the Year voting and third in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.

2016 ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year

Quarterman and Pinckney joined with Zach McCloud to form an all true freshmen linebacking core. This was necessary when the Hurricanes dismissed linebackers Jermaine Grace and Juwon Young along with lineman Quan Muhammad over the summer in a rental car scandal. Grace and Young were Miami’s top to tacklers in 2015.

Quarterman led Miami with 79 total tackles and 39 assisted tackles this season. He also had nine tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He was third in the ACC in tackles among freshmen this season.

Against Georgia Tech, Quarterman returned a fumble for a touchdown that extended Miami’s lead to 21-7 in the second quarter. Three plays later, fellow freshman Joe Jackson returned another Yellow Jacket fumble for a touchdown to increase the lead to 28-7. Both Jackson and Quarterman received votes for ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Pinckney finished fifth on the team with 57 total tackles and 30 solo tackles and third with 27 assisted tackles. He also had 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Oregon linebacker Troy Dye was the third member of ESPN’s All Freshmen linebacking core. He had 91 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks this season.

Quarterman, Pinckney and McCloud give the Hurricanes arguably the best linebacking core in the country for at least the next two seasons. Players must have been in school for three years before they are eligible to declare for the NFL draft.

McCloud finished the season tenth on the team with 31 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. The leadership from the linebacking corp will be key in 2017. The Hurricanes lose three key players in defensive backfield.

Miami should return a minimum of 16 starters next season including Kicker Michael Badgley. Retooling the secondary, and the possibility of having to replace Quarterback Brad Kaaya and Tight End David Njoku will be keys next season. True Freshmen are likely to get more opportunity in 2017 as well.