In a world where recruiting websites and star rankings reign supreme, Maryland’s path to the top is one for the ages. A virtually unknown prospect out of Chicago in 1986, Maryland received offers from the University of Miami … and Indiana State. That’s it.
Over the next four years, Maryland earned All-American honors at ‘The U’, won two national championships (1987 and 1989), was named both the 1990 Outland Trophy winner and UPI Lineman of the Year, en route to being the number one overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft, chosen first by former college coach Jimmy Johnson, who was entering his third season as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Maryland then went on to win three Super Bowls with Dallas – XXVII, XXVIII and XXX.
Not bad for a guy with only two college offers and probably would’ve been a two-star talent by today’s recruiting standards.
No. 67 joins good Miami company as the sixth former UM player to earn HOF honors. Also on that list, Bennie Blades (2006), Don Bosseler (1990), Ted Hendricks (1987), Gino Torretta (2009) and Arnold Tucker (2008). Two Hurricanes coaches are also Hall of Fame inductees; Andy Gustafson (1985) and Jack Harding (1980).
Maryland and fourteen other will be inducted on December 6th during a ceremony in New York City. The College Football Hall of Fame is located in South Bend, IN.
Congratulations, Russell. Go Canes.
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Well-deserved with his stellar resume. Goes to show what can happen with hard work, instead of a sense of entitlement that most players have in today's College Football world.