Dan Morgan Class: Senior Hometown: Coral Springs, Fla. High School: Taravella Height / Weight: 6-3 / 245 Position: Middle Linebacker

The first player ever to win college football's three top defensive awards available to linebackers: the Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker), the Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive play by the Maxwell Football Club) and the Nagurski Award (nation's top defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America) . . . Despite moving to middle linebacker after three seasons at weakside linebacker, Morgan emerged as the nation's most productive defensive player . . . Started 43 games at linebacker, the most starts by any Miami linebacker ever and the most by any Hurricanes defensive player in the history of UM football . . . Those 43 starts are consecutive, the most consecutive starts by a UM defensive player in history . . . Particularly in games against ranked opponents in his senior season, Morgan was a beacon of excellence . . . Morgan's totals against nationally ranked opponents in 2000: at Washington: 20 tackles, 1 pass interception, 1 fumble recovery; vs. Florida State: 17 tackles, 1 pass interception, 1 forced fumble; vs. Virginia Tech: 11 tackles; vs. Florida: 12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 interception . . . The first player in Miami history to be named a team captain three seasons by a vote of his teammates . . . On track to graduate in May, 2001, with a degree in Liberal Arts.

2000 (SENIOR): A consensus First-Team All-American, meaning he has made the first team of six major All-America teams (Associated Press, Football Writers, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Football News and The Sporting News) . . . A unanimous choice for BIG EAST Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the conference's head coaches . . . Named winner of Miami's Plumer Award by the coaching staff for his leadership, motivation and spirit . . . Named his team's Linebacker of the Year by the coaches . . . Shared with receiver Santana Moss the Jack Harding Award as Miami's Most Valuable Player as voted on by the coaching staff . . . Named Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week following UM's win over Florida State . . . A CNN/SI.com Mid-Season All-American . . . BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week following Miami's win over No. 1 Florida State . . . Has recorded double-digit tackles totals in 10 of 12 games . . . Led Miami in tackles during the regular season with 138 (90 solo) . . . Recorded 20 tackles, 1 pass interception and recovered a fumble at Washington . . . Racked up 17 tackles, 1 pass interception and a forced fumble vs. No. 1 Florida State . . . Made 13 tackles against Pittsburgh to break the UM career tackles record, becoming the first UM player to record 500 total tackles in a career . . . Finished with 532 career tackles . . . Set a new BIG EAST record for career tackles in the Syracuse game, passing Boston College's Stephen Boyd (1991-94) with 517 career stops . . . Named National Defensive Player of the Week after 17-tackle, 1 INT effort against Florida State, as well as BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week . . . Was BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week for the Temple game . . . A preseason First-Team All-American by Street & Smith's and a second-team pick by Football News, Lindy's and SportsLine . . . Also picked to the preseason All-BIG EAST team by several publications . . . Rated the No. 4 inside linebacker by Lindy's and No. 5 by The Sporting News in the preseason . . . Recorded seven tackles in the season-opener against McNeese State in limited action . . . Totaled 20 tackles, one INT and fumble recovery at Washington . . . Had a team-high 16 tackles at West Virginia, including two sacks . . . Had one tackle in limited action Rutgers . . . Had 17 tackles, 14 solo, one interception, a forced fumble and a QB hurry against Florida State . . . His interception was at the goal line prior to the close of the first half, leaving FSU scoreless at halftime . . . Racked up a game-high 17 tackles at Temple, including two for loss and one sack . . . Collected four tackles before leaving the Louisiana Tech game with a foot injury . . . Totaled 11 tackles against Virginia Tech . . . Broke the UM career tackles record with a 20-tackle (11 solos) outing vs. Pittsburgh when he also registered two tackles for losses and a fumble recovery . . . Had a game-high 10 tackles (six solos) in the 26-0 shutout at Syracuse on national television . . . Earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week after a 15-tackle effort in the season finale against Boston College . . . Garnered 12 tackles (10 solos), two tackles for losses and an interception in his finale at UM, a 37-20 win over Florida in the Nokia Sugar Bowl . . . Capped his collegiate career with a pass interception on his final play as a college football player, sewing up Miami's Sugar Bowl victory . . . The first player in school history to record over 100 tackles in four straight seasons.

1999 (JUNIOR): Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker) and Bronko Nagurski Award (best overall defensive player) semi-finalist...second-team All-BIG EAST selection...had 139 tackles including 5.0 sacks...was limited much of the season after suffering a broken thumb...had a screw surgically inserted into his thumb and played most of the year with his hand in a soft cast...his 68 assisted tackles were a team-high, while his 71 solo stops, 139 total tackles and 15 tackles for loss placed second among Hurricane defenders...also broke up four passes, recorded 11 quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles...recorded 14 tackles (7 solo) at Virginia Tech, including a one-yard sack...totaled 11 tackles and a pass breakup vs. Pittsburgh...led the defense with 15 tackles in the win over West Virginia...recorded 15 tackles in UM's comeback victory at Boston College...at East Carolina, had 12 tackles, including five solo...in the Kickoff Classic vs. Ohio State, totaled 12 tackles (7 solo).

1998 (SOPHOMORE): A first-team All-BIG EAST selection...recorded 150 tackles on the year, the third most by a Hurricane since 1983... team leader in tackles for the second straight year...BIG EAST leader averaging 13.6 tackles per game...also led the Hurricanes with 78 solo tackles...ten tackles for loss was second best on the squad...registered double-digit tackles in 9 of 11 games...led the team in tackles in 7 of 11 games...only sophomore named to the initial 68-player "Watch List" for the 1998 Butkus Award, honoring the nation's top linebacker...underwent surgery to repair a broken left thumb following the Boston College game...missed a large portion of the Hurricanes next contest vs. Temple after requiring six stitches to close laceration suffered during game on left hand...had his streak of 11 straight games with double-digit tackles ended following the thumb and hand injuries...played at 100 percent in win over UCLA recording 19 tackles, 10 solo, one tackle for loss and a pass break-up...recorded a season-high 19 tackles in each of the first two games (East Tennessee State and Cincinnati)...also had two sacks against ETSU...credited with a pair of fumble recoveries at Rutgers, becoming the first Hurricane since 1990 (Darrin Smith vs. Notre Dame) to recover two fumbles in a game.

1997 (FRESHMAN): Emerged as a true freshman to start each of the last eight games at weakside linebacker...first true freshman to start at linebacker since Ray Lewis in 1993...became the first true-freshman since Lewis to lead the Hurricanes in tackles...registered 105 tackles for the season...led the squad with 68 solo stops...also recorded four tackles for loss, three sacks, one pass break-up, and caused a fumble...posted team-high tackle totals in six of final seven games...played sparingly through first three games before cracking starting lineup in Week 4...selected by The Sporting News as a second-team freshman All-American...made first career start vs. West Virginia...sacked Mountaineer quarterback Marc Bulger causing a fumble that was recovered at the UM 39-yardline to thwart a potential WVU scoring drive...led Miami with 11 tackles, including eight solo, against Florida State...followed that game with a team leading 13 tackle performance against Boston College to become the first true freshman since Lewis to lead the team in tackles for consecutive games and to record back-to-back double-figure tackle games...also led Miami with nine tackles against Temple...turned in a 21 tackle performance at Virginia Tech, including 14 solo tackles...also credited with 14 solo tackles a week later vs. Rutgers...closed out the season with a 19 tackle effort, including 13 solo, vs. Syracuse...also had two sacks and a tackle for loss against the Orangemen...registered double-digit solo tackles in four games, including each of the last three...one of two Hurricanes to record 10 or more solo tackles in a game, and the only player to do it more than once...tallied 94 tackles (64 solo) over last seven games... averaged 13.4 tackles per game (9.1 solo) over that span...had 11 tackles to his credit through first four games...entered preseason drills at fullback before switching to defense one week into camp.

HIGH SCHOOL: Taravella...Prep Star All-American...Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel Super 11 team member...a Sun-Sentinel All-County selection...gained 907 yards on 122 carries and scored four touchdowns in just five games his senior year...also registered 60 tackles (12 solo), two sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries playing at linebacker and strong safety...Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel first-team All-County selection as a junior...rushed for 1,332 yards and 13 touchdowns on 240 carries during junior campaign...collected 74 tackles (21 solo), four fumble recoveries and one sack...also lettered in track... coached by Mike Facteau.

PERSONAL: Born 12/19/78...liberal arts major...full name is Daniel Thomas Morgan, Jr...chose Miami over Ohio State, Florida State, South Carolina and Georgia Tech...son of Daniel and Catherine Morgan.

Morgan's 2000 Game-by-Game Statistics

MORGAN'S CAREER STATISTICS