Classic Tailback - Willis McGahee Miami Highlights

A compilation of some of Willis McGahee's highlight's at the University of Miami. Willis McGahee only had one season of note. And that one season was absolutely spectacular before he shredded his knee in the Championship game. A ridiculous combination of speed and strength, 2002 McGahee was possibly the best in Miami's long line of stud tailbacks.
The games I used to take the clips from can be found on Stephen Barnett's youtube channel (and there were a few other channels I used as well that you can find if you look around): / sbbarnet. .
"Gymnopedie No. 1" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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All Rights Reserved. No Copyright Infringement Intended. This video is non-profit, made for entertainment and archival purposes only.

[@williamcalvert1957]

That man right there was decked out. I don't think I've ever seen someone look so stylish in a football uniform. The visor, the jersey number, the Miami uniform. It all matched like a CEO in a 3 piece suit.

[@jgrizzy]

U aint neva lie. He the reason i wore #2 in high...wanted to look n run like him power n speed

[@justinmcmillan2966]

Him and Sean Taylor had that look

[@EDogg5]

@@justinmcmillan2966 Sean Taylor

[@MooreVoicesMedia]

Absolutely the coolest looking player, while performing at a high level, on the collegiate or pro level. I was already right out of college when Willis played, however, I wanted to go back to play ball to look like Willis. The attention to detail was sick.

[@chazharris2979]

Yezzir!!! You are absolutely right! ....real Kool dude too...I'm a bartender and I met em....dude still looks like he can play!

[@freshsox4267]

The illest Miami tailback especially with the two tone visor ...

[@kasheem1747]

facts that visor smh

[@thadude4426]

That #2 jersey does it too🔥🔥🔥

[@David-oc7ni]

Sean Taylor’s visor was awesome too

[@joshromero-burgan9860]

It's a tie for me between him and portis

[@schuylersavage276]

The illest!! Yes!

[@krb0123]

7:09 that cut and burst is sick

[@user-of9fh9gh3x]

Yea that was something else

[@NAT-turners-Revenge]

Him, adrian peterson, and reggie bush were the best college RB's ive ever watched live. It felt like anytime they got 10 yrds upfield *HE COULD GO ALL THE WAY!*

[@bellazoe1]

He was probably along with Todd gurley and marshawn lynch the best college rb I ever saw. Gore pre injury too.

[@barquanbark]

Edgerrin James and Ricky Williams were amazing too

[@fredleeland2464]

Christian McCaffrey surprised me in college and is on my list along with these guys I'll add LeSean McCoy and Dion Lewis too

[@ProjectChaos77]

Dalvin Cook was fun to watch.

[@dominiquewilson]

Doesn’t even make sense because I’m 5 minutes in and I haven’t seen one home run and he keeps getting caught from behind

[@JoFlirt]

My favorite college running back of all time!!! I cried when his knee blew out in the Natty that OSU cheated.

[@erickgranados5867]

You damn right bro..that game was paid off..miami had won that game..f..k reff cheated big times.

[@ProjectChaos77]

@@erickgranados5867 Cry me a river. #31 was draped around Chris Gamble which lead to the PI. Maybe if UM took tOSU seriously and didn’t celebrate before the game even started the outcome could’ve been different. Instead y’all’s feelings hurt and haven’t been the same since Shaun Taylor and those boys turned pro in 04.

[@JJHcars]

@@ProjectChaos77 hey Richard Head. You don't know sheeeeeet. It's was a bullshit call and everyone knows it. Dirty plays mixed in by OSU and a player who cheated and was such a scumbag he shouldn't have been on the field. But they ALL got caught years later. Cry that river 😢

[@jaysun6]

Will Allen did that intentionally..The Offensive line shoulda got on his head for that, since Ohio state made it clear that if they we're going to win it, the direct route was his knee 😤

[@jaysun6]

@@ProjectChaos77 You mean Celebrating like Will Allen, after intentionally tearing up a potentially 1st rounder Hall of Fame knee?

[@Teamques]

one the most underrated backs of the early 2000's.

[@abczyx4815]

Had a good nfl career too, lasted

[@jimbeam3783]

That man was by no means underrated. He was hyped the fxck up when he was at Miami.

[@Teamques]

Jim Beam when looking back over who was Miami best tailback. EJ, Portis and Gore are usually the first ones mention(they were beast as well). McGhee was the best tailback to me.

[@jimbeam3783]

@@Teamques ......... I agree. He's the first one i normally think about when someone mentions a Miami RB.

[@brianodental1634]

@@Teamques yeah that bad injury he has sapped a lot of his top end speed. He was still great as a pro though

[@antoniologan7648]

hands down my favorite RB of all time

[@jakethemuss3]

Incredible acceleration, great top end speed, big and strong.

[@williamcalvert1957]

@@heavyizthacrown-5842 Wha wha whaaaaat?

[@kingice4406]

Thank you for not showing that injury

[@PockyCandy]

There's no way in hell I'd show that injury.

[@lukehighlights8131]

PockyCandy thank yoh

[@andstill856]

McGahee come back from devastating knee injury #2 behind Adrian Peterson. Watching college football at that time you could never forget Mcgahee knee injury.

[@OgeeThegodfather]

That visor with that orange jersey plus the number 2 was 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Dozier133192]

He made the colorful visors look cool to wear in my opinion.

[@BrandonJamol]

Shoulda won the Heisman that year

[@heavyizthacrown-5842]

Brandon Johnson He should have definitely won that Heisman.

[@asnark7115]

Maurice Clarrette was kind of good, too! That BCS Final after Magahee's knee injury was the most screwed up game I ever watched. Just because of that injury. 'Canes were starting that downhill running game when it happened. Still sucks!

[@lightingbolt8148]

Idk about that

[@starter47990]

@@heavyizthacrown-5842 who?

[@obeyreplay649]

@@asnark7115 I loved it! Not the injury itself but the outcome of the game.

[@BigSwo2909]

Loved Willis, but people forget how good Gore was pre-knee injury. Happy both of them had legit NFL careers.

[@promeitheus]

That Miami team was absolutely unbelievable. 3 HOF’ers in Andre Johnson, Ed Reed, Sean Taylor. Yes, Sean Taylor

[@nikosuavesworldofsportsmusic]

promeitheus I'm a die hard Miami Hurricanes fan & it's tragic what happened to the late great Sean Taylor but cut it out dude he isn't a hall of famer.

[@ThelegendTMC]

Dr Beyonder 7 time pro bowler and 14,000 + receiving yards isn’t hall of fame? Refrain from the heavy drugs you must be using guy.

[@asnark7115]

@Dr Beyonder Andre Johnson was the best receiver not named Jerry Rice or Calvin Johnson, and hit, caught and accelerated better than Johnson. If he had ever had a single better than average QB, and a team that didn't make/let him play through a 3rd degree ankle blowout after they were already out of the playoffs,.. Yeah, never forget that his QB the first 4-5 years of his career was David Carr.

[@nikosuavesworldofsportsmusic]

@@asnark7115 Ok he STILL wasn’t a Hall of Fame player at the time of his unfortunate premature death.

[@nikosuavesworldofsportsmusic]

@@asnark7115 Correction the LEGENDARY Ed Reed was the HANDS DOWN the best free safety during both the aforementioned Brian Dawkins & Sean Taylor’s tenure in the NFL. Brian Dawkins played BOTH free & strong safety at times throughout his Hall of Fame career however he’s considered to be a strong safety & in regards to Sean Taylor at the time of his death he was OBVIOUSLY the most physically gifted & athletic free safety in NFL history was having a SPECTACULAR start to his 2007-08 season where he possibly could’ve won NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors for clarification.

[@nicholaswoods4055]

Before his injury he looked like an all time great

[@markfroman738]

💯💯💯

[@courtneyscullark4130]

know one could run between the tackles like willis could. into traffic so fast. brings back memories

[@courtneyscullark4130]

willis was a bad man. i remember him and Maurice clarret at Ohio was the two top running backs that year. but it was the style and vision of willis for me🐐🐐🐐 i was playing running back myself in middle school. loved watching him for sure.

[@krb0123]

Maurice was cold af. Sad what happened to him

[@Monty_McFly]

Miami really liked that screen play from their own 20. Huge gains.

[@Kennyarnold16]

I used to love seeing! it went for 20+ every time!

[@alexmacfarlane3497]

The one against FSU-- whaaatttt??!!? found a sixth gear

[@robp4789]

I was so upset he got hurt in the title game. I’m glad he had that remarkable comeback and a decent pro career. He is easy to root for.

[@shottashabazz6721]

Big fast back and was tireless. He seemed to get stronger as the game progressed.

[@kaiserest.9990]

As the game went on nobody wanted to tackle mcgahee its just draining

[@c.s.4191]

@5:42 they both knocked each other out. It's crazy how many jarring hits and knockouts the common fans miss. These guys play it off so well. I played a lot of football (high school, college, and little more after that) and a lot of DBs I knew would knock themselves out once or twice a game. They'd come over to me on the sideline and ask if it was a good hit because they don't remember it.

[@MooreVoicesMedia]

WOW, great catch…I only noticed the DB and I watched it twice.

[@user-of9fh9gh3x]

I think it was eric berry but could be wrong

[@JuiceBigalow11]

One of my favorite college/pro running backs to watch play. Man he was a beast! Along with all the other backs that played at The U!

[@kevingaskin6317]

They're all nasty

[@JuiceBigalow11]

@@kevingaskin6317 All facts!

[@heavyizthacrown-5842]

Legendary RB!

[@tycoon214]

7:06 1 of my most favorite runs in college football history 💯💯💯 I remember seeing it LIVE.

[@Ginga]

The way he accelerated from a standing start to top speed was ridiculous.

[@tycoon214]

@@Ginga Facts!!!!!

[@vizzlemaaane7713]

If you from Miami, you know that boy could fly

[@lxvebassin2179]

My favorite college player of all time

[@KennyLauderdale]

One of my favorite backs

[@youtubesvengali9120]

Mcgahee was the original Fournette, in terms of size and speed.

[@toddwerder7361]

Should’ve saw Edgerrin James at the U

[@chadpassmore80]

mike D never seen fournette get ran down like Mcgahee... and these are highlights

[@313Martin]

@@chadpassmore80 if fournette played against the competition Willis did then he would be in the same boat because Willis ran 4.3s

[@mards2479]

Nah, he’s the original leveon bell, look at the patience and jump cuts in the backfield, and the receiving ability

[@asnark7115]

@@chadpassmore80 Willis was the fastest Cane ever in pads and on the grid and shuttle running.

[@btatejr21]

Dude should have won the Heisman

[@kenetmcmeans9820]

One of the best

[@nickels317]

Straight Peanut Butter & Jelly with a cold glass of Milk....

[@bigkfromtx9526]

if it wasn't for that hit he would've been a beast

[@PockyCandy]

To be fair, McGahee had a pretty solid NFL career too.

[@milothedangerous3799]

+The Lozzman until it happened in the NFL.

[@scottbrooks6975]

The Lozzman He was a beast!

[@williamhermann6635]

Still was a beast in the NFL. Just never quite had the same juice. Became more of a power back. He was unreal before that injury tho.

[@asnark7115]

He still was, honestly. He just never played for an O-Coordinator who was patient and smart enough to build a game around 4-6 yards per carry, like Wanstead and Johnson were with Emmitt Smith, who was a really similar stright-slide-straight with no hip level change runner; just not as fast or powerful as WillisM. Coulda, woulda, shoulda..

[@coreysmith1844]

When U of Miami was like Alabama

[@scienceownsimposters2142]

Yup

[@larrywoten2788]

For my money, he was one of the best college rb's that you could find. Just flat out made it look too easy at times.

[@seandinga8451]

My favorite um running back.

[@rajohnson8570]

He was a tank literally

[@blackricktheruler]

If not for the knee injury he might have been a HOF candidate.He was the most talented back to ever play at Miami

[@juice4080]

they were all very talented but larry coker said payton and gore were the most talented of the bunch and judging by his success in the nfl id be inclined to agree...as for me i liked portis the best

[@blackricktheruler]

+juice4080 McGahee at 6'1 225lbs had ridiculous vision,incredible balance and was clocked at a 4.3 in the 40 pre-injury,not to mention he was strong as hell.The U was runningback U for about 4 or 5 years but just off the eye test i think Willis was the best of the bunch.Hell,he managed 8,000 yards with the loss of his speed,imagine what he could've done if never lost it.

[@PockyCandy]

Yeah, until I made this video, I had no idea how fast McGahee used to be. I always thought of him as strictly a plodding power back.

[@TG-tv2xi]

Edge James IMO is the best back to ever come out of Miami- Willis had an amazing year, best ever for a season at UM. Gore would have kept willis on the bench in 02 if he did not tear his knee up in the spring. Gore before his ACL injuries was amazing. Still pissed off Coker never burned his RS against OSU in the Fiasco bowl

[@blackricktheruler]

+Todd Grant I have no problem with Edge getting the nod,especially since I think he should be in the HOF.But Willis' issue at the U was his confidence.That one year at the U wasn't a fluke.His pro career after the injury is proof.

[@alexmacfarlane3497]

With injury could have been top 5 ever. I believe it was Clinton Portis that said " I bullied him, tease him because he was so good I knew if I came out of the game he would take over, he was just so good"

[@asnark7115]

If Davis wasn't such a nice guy who was loyal to all the older players like Portis that helped him resurrect Miami, McG might have had about twice as many NCAA yards. As it was, he was underused.

[@madsupervilian.]

Man, Miami had so many talented RB's during this small time span, it's ridiculous. Clinton Portis, Edgerin James, Frank Gore, Walter Payton's son. This not including the rest of the talented roster, Gawd daym

[@rajohnson8570]

Walter Payton son was a damn scrub.

[@MooreVoicesMedia]

How you gonna forget Davenport? Even I am forgetting one more.

[@jacksonmoore9090]

He is my favorite now me being a broncos fan. Boi I was excited love you #loveu23

[@JulianWavy]

So underrated

[@tommybenson582]

Legend 🙌

[@carrieshaw4498]

Willis was awesome!!👍🏉😃

[@Lovegainers5]

If he does not get injured in the 02 championship game against his Ohio State the hurricanes win their 6th championship. As for McGehee, he was never the same runner.

[@scienceownsimposters2142]

True

[@testfortester7131]

Legend!!!

[@kevingaskin6317]

No argument

[@connorchurch3518]

Willis was the man! His running style gives me flashbacks to prime Adrian Peterson with his combination of: size, strength, and speed. Truly one of a kind!

[@michaelthompson5782]

Solid Tback. Always ran with low pad level through the tackle.

[@ATLCane]

This was a heisman worthy season. Other than Reggie Bush he’s the best back I’ve seen in college in my lifetime

[@asnark7115]

Bush AND Peterson, though I'd argue he was better than Bush, because at the end of the day Ball is about hitting. McGahee HURT linebackers and secondary players on carries and blocks. He didn't need as much body movement to get the same direction change that Bush got, either.

[@seegee1613]

Robbed of the heisman. Best CFB player that year. Dorsey being on the team split the votes,

[@asnark7115]

Ironic, because Dorsey was the least talented player on either side of the Miami ball.

[@paulhill7818]

What Ya Talking about Willis.. Poetry in Motion..🙌😎

[@MiamiLifeInstantSwag]

MIAMI CENTRAL ROCKETS REPRESENTATIVE! 305!!!

[@coolbreezeinpuertoplata4470]

A beast 💯💯💯💯

[@rdjqser3272]

Thx

[@trueskool1977]

Deserved the Heisman that year. He was screwed

[@KennyLauderdale]

My fav

[@mikereilly7806]

Can we just admire the offensive line down blocking that asses off on these plays!!! First level was non existent!

[@greenghost5009]

This man was a beasttttttttttt

[@taemula4514]

He used to b 1 of my fav back when he played for the ravens 💪🏽

[@jusdrewit]

awesome video, you should add a few more of his longer runs you missed, he had real long ones vs Syracuse and Rutgers to name a few

[@PockyCandy]

I couldn't find footage from the Syracuse or Rutgers games. Otherwise, I would have included those runs.

[@EnlightenedOne-lq6qc]

This what we called A 99 player, straight creation

[@superAmaster]

Liked just for that intro

[@Kennyarnold16]

to be almost 240 he was a smooth runner.

[@jusdrewit]

In college he was around 228

[@scienceownsimposters2142]

Indeed

[@RPMCanes]

That P.O.S. Will Allen with a dirty hit

[@bertrandqualo8147]

Guy was supremely confident at the U very very strong quick cool guy too

[@yungheat84]

Ohio state played dirty the whole night

[@Peppy869]

This man ran for 1700 yards with 28 touchdowns and more than 6 yards per carry. That’s insane when you think about it. He can carry a lot. He obviously has big play vision with 6.2 yards per carry. AND he has 28 freaking touchdowns. So he has a nose for the end zone. Wtf they don’t make them like him anymore

[@markfroman738]

All things considered he still had a hell of an NFL career being only about 2/3 of what he was before the Injury. Special cat.

[@mochabear88]

i like him but the blocking is also phenomenal

[@Ravens752003]

Shared your video with couple of scouting guys Brett Kollman and Matt Waldman it started a interesting discussion do you think you can do a video on Frank Gore?

[@PockyCandy]

Yeah, i can do a Frank Gore video eventually. I'm waiting for more games to become available. btw, I found the discussion on Twitter. It certainly was interesting to read.

[@Ravens752003]

Yes it was really respect both guys really gotta wonder how good both backs could have been without the injuries. To think that Gore still probably a HOF'er crazy to think what he could've been

[@rajohnson8570]

Gore was a more consistent runner but Mcgahee was more of an explosive back especially before the injuries.

[@rubengutierrez5102]

My best five RB's from Miami of all time are OJ Anderson, Edge James, Will McGahee, Frank Gore, and Clinton Portis.

[@JDUBHITZ]

Can u do a Garrison Hearst UGA highlight reel?

[@PockyCandy]

Yes, after this semester is over.

[@dholyfield01]

PockyCandy how about a Peter Warrick video?

[@jeremiahhudson302]

Bra that run at 7:08 😳😳

[@CamBamLifts]

His legs was always moving and it was moving FAST

[@patrickgreensr-uu2zl]

Boy I tell ya that dude was a BAD man u hear me hands down a great athlete

[@she_lovesbillz]

Can you do one on lamicheal James

[@andyraphael]

what happened with the Syracuse game

[@yaydog2702]

ill never forget him breaking his knee vs Ohio st

[@jaybet9069]

You ever thought about doing Devin Hester?

[@kriskilpatrick7321]

Speed. Size. Power. Elusiveness. Vision. Receiving ability. One of the greatest college football RBs of all-time, even if it was for only one great season. He would have been a HOF NFL RB if it weren't for that injury.

[@andyraphael]

Sooooo true

[@adamforman606]

He still turned out to be a Great NFL Running Back with the Bills, Ravens & Broncos. It was the Severe NFL helmet-to-helmet Concussions that really did him in. But, yes if he didn't have that Fiesta Bowl knee injury, he would have been a Top 3 pick in the NFL Draft pick. The BEST Running Back Miami ever produced in my opinion !

[@scienceownsimposters2142]

True

[@lavonedavis9307]

Dude was 230 pounds with 4.3 speed

[@kevinhackett1936]

5:42 number 16 had a bad time

[@sl1ker]

What's the tune in the beginning?

[@PockyCandy]

"Gymnopedie No. 1" by Erik Satie. Judging from your profile pic, I'm going to assume that you liked the video a lot.

[@sl1ker]

Thanks! I remember now. I actually use to have it but its been a while. As far as me liking the video......whatever gave you that impression? Lol. Great work, keep it coming!!

[@PockyCandy]

Alex 77 I'll keep making these for as long as I can :)

[@sl1ker]

Please do, you do a great job!

[@babsthewreckingcrew4294]

well to be fair that o-line was opening up holes that i could have ran through

[@btatejr21]

Andre Johnson #5

[@razorstallone4717]

@3:27 who is #9? Guy has some jets on him 🏃‍♂️

[@seegee1613]

2000 yards!!!! Robbed

[@chuckittyduckitty]

Lol @ 7:33 who is Jerry McGahee?🤣😅😆

[@jusdrewit]

I believe the announcer was talking to Dr. Jerry Punch on the sidelines so if you use a comma it makes more sense, "1st and goal Jerry... McGahee turns the corner!"

[@aaronafre1920]

230 lbs!? Wow 👏

[@davisbonsu6800]

please do a ladainian tomlinson tcu highlight

[@PockyCandy]

I can't do one of those due to lack of footage. Sorry :(

[@goinham25]

noel devine?

[@jonathanwashington1380]

do a cliton portis vid

[@downeast5778]

Sammy Smith Florida State plz

[@taylorgeathers1396]

Running the shit out of counter

[@dancarpentieri7762]

Kinda reminds me of Travis Etienne.

[@jimbeam3783]

He was fast and will challenge the linebacker

[@asnark7115]

My favorite kind of back. Smash a LB, then juke the safety.

[@KayoMonei]

Bruh our online use to move ppl

[@turnupthesun81]

How many times O-line were getting downfield to make blocks was impressive. Those guys didn’t stop.

[@dholyfield01]

could you do a Peter Warrick video?

[@johnvallery5539]

2000 yds rushing & 26tds who the hell won the heisman that year??

[@joeciocco457]

Carson Palmers bum ass

[@jamesjulius173]

Carson Palmer sorry ass

[@greenghost5009]

That’s what I want to know, was it dude from Nebraska that year ?

[@josephrice29]

Is their any way u can just show the best runs and leave the 5 yd runs out...

[@Wideout4]

Warwick Dunn?

[@heavyizthacrown-5842]

Anthony Ellison Willis McGahee was better than Warwick

[@killa62690]

clinton portis at the U please

[@heavyizthacrown-5842]

nahshon gayle WILLIS MCGAHEE IS BETTER

[@innovativeVideoContent]

Around 3:17 Michael Vick watchin??