Willis McGahee's College Career: A Story of Triumph and Tragedy
Willis McGahee is one of the many great running backs who have come through the Miami Hurricanes football program. Some have had better college careers, and some have had better NFL careers. However, no Canes running back had a better single season than McGahee’s 2002 campaign. He was a beast from start to finish and absolutely should’ve won the Heisman Trophy that year. His 2002 season is now under appreciated.
Early Years and High School Success
Willis McGahee III was born in Miami, Florida, on October 21, 1981. He attended Miami Central High School, where he quickly became one of the top running backs in the nation and No. 1 in Florida. McGahee was listed as the No. 6 running back on Prep Star’s 1999 Top 100 Dream Team and the No. 10 overall prospect in the Southeast Region. He earned SuperPrep All-American honors and was rated the No. 5 running back nationally and the No. 11 overall prospect in Florida by SuperPrep. USA Today recognized him as an Honorable Mention All-American.
The Promising Start to 2002 Season
In 2002, McGahee, along with Ken Dorsey, Andre Johnson, Kellen Winslow II, and others helped lead Miami to an undefeated regular season and a #1 ranking, which included a trip to the National Championship game against second ranked Ohio State.
McGahee’s first start was just okay: 6 rushes for 60 yards and a touchdown against FAMU. It was FAMU, therefore those numbers didn’t really mean anything. Plus, it’s not like he went off in the game. It was still unsure what Miami had at running back, and it was a concern.
Then, the Canes traveled to Gainesville to take on the #6 Florida Gators on September 7th, 2002. The Gators were favored against the defending national champions and #1 team in the country. McGahee gashed the Gators defense all day long: 24 rushes for 204 yards. It was a dominating performance. He didn’t get in the end zone, but showed the power, speed, and vision.
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McGahee was just getting started. He rushed for 134 yards and 4 touchdowns on just 21 carries at Temple, then topped that a week later with 135 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 17 carries vs Boston College in the Orange Bowl. People started to take notice. Who was this guy putting up these big numbers? Wasn’t he supposed to back up Frank Gore?
After a ho-hum 11 carry, 107 yard, and 3 touchdown day against UConn, the Canes traveled to Tallahassee. McGahee was held to under a hundred yards rushing for the first time since the season-opener, going for 95 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. However, he made the biggest play of the game, taking a Ken Dorsey screen pass 68 yards down the right sideline to set up the game-winning score in the come-from-behind victory.
After that thrilling victory, McGahee had 112 yards and 3 touchdowns at West Virginia. It took him 32 carries to reach those numbers though. His 3.5 ypc that game would be his worst of the regular season.
McGahee bounced back for a huge game against upset-minded Rutgers in dreary New Jersey. McGahee finished with 187 yards and 2 touchdowns on 23 carries in the 42-17 win.
The Unforgettable 2002 Season
In 2002, Willis McGahee had a season for the ages, marked by incredible statistics and unforgettable performances. He shattered school season records, carrying the ball 282 times for 1,753 yards, averaging 6.2 yards per carry, and scoring 28 touchdowns.
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McGahee was a beast from start to finish. First, let’s get to the stats:
- 282 carries
- 1753 yards
- 28 touchdowns
- 6.2 ypc
- 27 receptions
- 355 yards
- 13.1 ypr
He was a Heisman Trophy candidate at this point in the season, but his next four games shot him up in the conversation and should’ve won him the award.
First, Miami traveled to Knoxville to play the unranked Tennessee Volunteers. McGahee finished with 154 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. Miami completely dominated the game from start to finish.
Miami then traveled home and took on a talented Pittsburgh team 12 days later for Thursday Night College Football on ESPN. The Canes offense was out of sorts and ineffective for much of the first half. Then McGahee struck. He broke a 69-yard run to tie the game at 14 with just over two minutes left in the second quarter. With that burst, McGahee single-handedly took the momentum back from the Panthers. Miami held on to win 28-21 and McGahee finished with 19 carries for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Miami went on the road to the Carrier Dome for their penultimate game of the 2002 regular season. Syracuse was feeling good and probably thought they had a chance to top the champs. McGahee sucked the air out of the building with a 61-yard touchdown run on the Canes’ opening possession. He then scored on a 51-yard run in the third quarter that looked almost identical to the run against Pitt the previous game. McGahee left Upstate New York with 14 carries for 134 yards, including those two long touchdown runs.
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Heading into December of 2002, the Miami Hurricanes had two Heisman Trophy candidates on their team in McGahee and Ken Dorsey. The season finale against Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl to secure a place in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl was an opportunity to put on a show. Willis McGahee put on a show in his last game in front of the Canes faithful. He rushed for 205 yards and 6 touchdowns on 39 carries. Rushing for 6 TDs in a game is a Miami Hurricanes record. McGahee’s Heisman Trophy argument was solidified.
Only UCF's Kevin Smith (29 in 2007), Florida Atlantic's Devin Singletary (32 in 2017), Nebraska's Mike Rozier (29 in 1983), Colorado State's Kapri Bibbs (31 in 2013), Wisconsin's Montee Ball (33 in 2011), and Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders (37 in 1988) ran for more touchdowns in an NCAA Division I-A season.
The Heisman Trophy Snub
Despite his stellar performance and record-breaking season, McGahee did not win the Heisman Trophy. The narrative was that the teammates stole votes from each other. USC’s Carson Palmer won the award, Iowa QB Brad Banks finished second, and Larry Johnson finished third. McGahee finished fourth with 101 first place votes, while Dorsey finished fifth, but had 122 first place votes.
The Devastating Injury
The pinnacle of his college career was overshadowed by a severe knee injury sustained during the 2003 Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. In the early part of the fourth quarter during the 2003 Fiesta Bowl National Championship Game, McGahee suffered an injury after catching a screen pass from Dorsey. He was immediately hit by Buckeye safety Will Allen, turning his left knee into a swivel joint and causing tears of the ACL, PCL, and MCL. Prior to getting hurt, he had rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown, as Miami would lose the game in double-overtime, 31-24. This injury required several surgeries and extensive rehabilitation before he would be able to play again.
Doctors found torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments but no tear to the posterior collateral ligament. Ohio State 35 and was hit by Will Allen for a 2-yard loss. had to be helped from the field. McGahee had torn the ACL in the same knee during his senior season at Miami Central High School. "He told me that the pain was not as bad as last time," Poole told the newspaper. Poole said McGahee, who ran for a school-record 1,686 yards and 27 touchdowns this season, had not decided whether he would turn pro after this, his third season at Miami. "We were going to weigh the options after this game," Poole said. "He was going to talk to a personal lawyer and the family about it. He didn't want to bother with it during the season.
NFL Draft Decision and Initial Concerns
Following the injury, McGahee faced a difficult decision regarding his future. Despite the career-threatening knee injury, he decided to forgo his final two seasons of eligibility at Miami and enter the NFL Draft. This move was rarely seen in college football, highlighting McGahee's determination to pursue his professional dreams.
His draft status was complicated, though. He probably will be examined by nearly every NFL team between now and April's draft - and the results could determine how high he gets selected.
Former Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel Gil Brandt said, "Everybody's going to be very anxious to see what kind of repair they get on that knee between now and April 25. There's either going to be a lot of doctors flying to Miami or McGahee's going to be flying to a lot of places. If he's healthy then he's a very, very good player. If he's not healthy, then there's the question of taking a chance."
McGahee tore two ligaments in his left knee in the fourth quarter of Miami's 31-24 double overtime loss to Ohio State on Jan. 3. The injury appeared gruesome, and team officials initially feared McGahee might have torn three ligaments and done significant damage to the area that delivers blood to the region - making a full recovery improbable.
Draft and Early NFL Career
Despite the injury, McGahee's talent and potential were undeniable. He was eventually selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round with the 23rd overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft.
McGahee sat out his rookie season with Buffalo, but he has put together a sturdy NFL career with three teams over 10 seasons.
A Look Back at a Remarkable Career
Willis McGahee's college career is a testament to his exceptional talent, hard work, and resilience. His 2002 season remains one of the greatest ever by a Miami Hurricanes running back. Despite the unfortunate injury that cut short his college career and altered his professional trajectory, McGahee left an indelible mark on the sport and remains a beloved figure among Canes fans.
Throughout his career, McGahee faced numerous challenges, including injuries and changes in team dynamics. However, he consistently demonstrated his ability to overcome adversity and contribute to his team's success. His determination and perseverance serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and fans alike.
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