Four Hurricanes selected on final day of draft, but four left out
The Miami Hurricanes had four players drafted on Saturday, the final day of the 2020 NFL Draft. The players: LB Shaquille Quarterman, RB DeeJay Dallas, WR K.J. Osborn and DE Jonathan Garvin.
Another year, another four Miami Hurricanes in the NFL — fewer than expected, but nonetheless all grateful to continue the University of Miami pipeline to the pros.
Several Hurricanes were shut out of the NFL Draft on Thursday and Friday, making the wait on Saturday’s third and final day undoubtedly nerve-racking. But at about 1:50 p.m., the first of those Hurricanes — linebacker Shaq Quarterman — realized his lifelong dream when he was chosen by his hometown Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round, the 140th player overall.
Quarterman, the epitome of leadership and production, is from the Jacksonville suburb of Orange Park and won’t have to go far to begin his pro career. “I’m here, right here,’’ Quarterman posted on Twitter. “Let’s get busy!’’
Ten minutes and four picks later, UM running back DeeJay Dallas learned he was the second Cane off the board when
the Seattle Seahawks selected him 144th overall — the 38th player taken in the fourth round. “The way up to the top of the mountain is always longer than you think,’’ Dallas tweeted about a half hour before he was picked.
After Quarterman and Dallas went, the day got increasingly uncomfortable for most of the eight former Canes who were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine — until former Buffalo graduate transfer receiver K.J. Osborn got taken in the fifth round (176th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings.
“Talk about a guy with some explosiveness,’’
ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said of Osborn, who caught 53 passes for 892 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior at Buffalo and led UM with 50 catches for 547 yards and five touchdowns. “He ran a 4.48 at the combine [with] a 371⁄ 2- inch vertical. He goes to Miami and he showcases all that ability in the [punt] return game. You get a guy who can catch the football, gets out of his cut quickly and spun around some cornerbacks ... The hands, the concentration in traffic across the middle, was impressive.”
Then, after an excruciatingly long wait, Canes junior defensive end Jonathan Garvin went in the seventh and final round — the 242nd player out of 255 drafted — to the Green Bay Packers.
Garvin ended the 2019 season with 37 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks, four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles, a year after his best season of 60 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 51⁄ sacks, two fumble
2 recoveries, five pass breakups and a touchdown on a fumble return.
The four drafted Hurricanes were the fewest since UM had two (first-round cornerback Artie Burns and fourth-round safety Deon
Bush) drafted in 2016.
But four of the top UM draft-eligible players went unpicked, including two — cornerback Trajan Bandy and receiver Jeff Thomas — who left after their junior seasons. Also undrafted were defensive end Trevon Hill and linebacker Michael Pinckney. All were expected to sign undrafted free-agent contracts or be invited to try out.
“I just believe that if I continue to work everything is going to be okay,’’ Bandy posted Saturday morning on Twitter.
As for Quarterman, he returned for his senior season, was the quintessential Miami Hurricane, the most loyal of the loyal who produced abundantly and was thoughtful and respectful and classy no matter what the circumstance — whether that be during his finest moments or his most heartbreaking.
“I don’t know what football team wouldn’t want Shaq Quarterman in their locker room,’’ UM coach Manny Diaz told the Miami Herald this past week. “He’s been the consummate pro for his entire college career. He’s all business, doesn’t want to ever get outworked. He gives everything he has for the game.’’
Said NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah about Quarterman, who finished his career with 356 tackles, 46.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, one interception, 14 pass deflections, two forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and a touchdown: “They rave about his leadership ... he can play downhill, he’ll thump you and he brings some real toughness.’’
Among his most impressive accolades, Quarterman, despite shoulder injuries along the way, is the only Hurricane to ever start 52 games of his collegiate career without missing a single start.
Dallas, the father of almost 10-month-old DeeJay Nova, is a gritty back who was described by Jeremiah as “the best pass-protecting back in the draft class. His game is about vision, balance and power between the tackles. ...You talk about short yardage, this dude is a bulldog in short yardage.’’
Added Jeremiah on Saturday: “He stones guys. ... He’s fighting for those tough, physical yards.’’
Dallas led the Canes in rushing this past season with 693 yards and eight touchdowns on 115 carries for a 6.0 yards-per-carry average. He now joins former Canes tailback Travis Homer, who was drafted by Seattle last year as an underclassman.
“Today is where you build your football team,’’ Kiper said just moments before the final day of the draft began at noon. “The most important day of the draft, I believe, is Day Three.’’