The College Defensive Player of the Year Award is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, College and Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Dan
Morgan, 2000When you consider all the great defensive players who attended the University of Miami, from Jerome Brown to Warren Sapp, from Ray Lewis to Jesse Armstead, it speaks volumes that Dan Morgan finished his career as the school's all-time leader in tackles with 532.
"I don't think one individual could do much more for a program than Danny has done," Miami coach Butch Davis said. "He is a great player on game day and he has been a terrific role model for our younger players. He's as physically gifted as anyone, he has great instincts and he is as tough a competitor as I've ever seen."
The 6-3, 245-pound Morgan was a standout weakside linebacker, but he agreed to move inside for his senior season to replace Nate Webster, who went to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Morgan had a brilliant final season with 138 tackles (15 for losses), four quarterback sacks and two interceptions as the Hurricanes posted an 11-1 record.
"Danny has virtually carried our defense on his back for the last three years," Davis said.
Morgan became first player ever to win college football's three top defensive awards available to linebackers: the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award and the Nagurski Award.
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