5 Greatest Quarterbacks in Miami Hurricanes History

The first listed of three straight quarterbacks on this list who played consecutively of each other, Walsh may be a surprise for some who might have expected, say, Cam Ward. Ward was great and all, but Walsh not only finished high in Heisman Trophy voting, he also has a national championship.

Miami went a perfect 12-0 in Walsh’s first season as starter in 1987. He threw for 2,249 yards with 19 touchdowns serving as something more than a game manager, but not quite a superstar.

He upped to that star status the next season, finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy voting as he threw for more than 3,100 yards with 29 touchdowns and the ‘Canes lost just one game, the only game he’d lose in his college career.

4. Vinny Testaverde (1982-1986)

Testverde might be the most talented passer in Miami history. At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, his size provided him a drool-worthy arm that was so good, he played in the NFL until his age 44 season.

He spent three years, including one redshirt season, watching and learning. When he got his shot in 1985, he set the world on fire throwing for more than 3,200 yards and finishing fourth in Heisman voting.

As a senior in ‘86, he went one better, capturing the trophy after leading the nation with 26 touchdowns. They were far from shallow numbers, too, as the Hurricanes went 21-3 over his two starting seasons.

3. Bernie Kosar (1982-1984)

The first quarterback in Miami’s run as Quarterback U, Kosar was nothing short of outstanding in his two seasons leading the Hurricanes.

He joined Miami in 1982, redshirting as the team went just 7-4 using three different signal-callers. In ‘83, when Kosar took over, he led the ‘Canes to an 11-1 record and the national championship in an iconic, 31-30 win over Nebraska.

The next year, Miami’s team success took a small dip, but Kosar set school records for yards passing (3,642) and touchdowns (25) while finishing fourth in Heisman voting.

2. Gino Torretta (1989-1992)

Much like the No. 1 player on this list and dissimilar to the three ranked just below him, Torretta was not gifted with insane athleticism. He still managed one of the greatest careers in college football history.

Torretta won two national championships, backing up Craig Erikson in 1989 and starting in 1991.

He won the Maxwell Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Walter Camp award and the Heisman Trophy during his era. And Torretta took the ‘Canes back to the title game in his final season of 1993, too.

If you want to make the case he’s No. 1 here, we won’t argue.

1. Ken Dorsey (1999-2002)

Dorsey doesn’t have the strongest arm of the five players on this list. He wasn’t likely to out and steal a game for Miami during his four seasons as starter. But he needed neither the cannon or the maverick mentality to do what he did best.

Win. Dorsey went 38-2 as a starter with a 34-game winning streak during his time in a Hurricanes uniform, taking Miami to back-to-back national-championship games and winning the title in 2001.

Only Brad Kaaya has passed for more yards in school history and no one comes close to matching Dorsey’s 86 career touchdown passes.

He was a Maxwell Award winner, two-time All-American and two-time Big East Offensive Player of the Year in the most successful four-year stretch since the halcyon days of the 1980s.

The Best of Miami Hurricanes Football

• 10 Greatest Football Players in Miami Hurricanes History
• 5 Greatest Quarterbacks in Miami Hurricanes History
• 5 Greatest Running Backs in Miami Hurricanes History
• 5 Greatest Wide Receivers in Miami Hurricanes History
• 5 Greatest Defensive Players in Miami Hurricanes History