The defending national champion Miami Hurricanes sent four first-rounders to the NFL two years ago, then lost five more first-round players in April. That is why the talent-laden Hurricanes will have to take the term "reloading" to a new level if they hope to compete for another national championship.

	Receiver Andre Johnson, right, caught 10 of Ken Dorsey's 23 touchdown passes last season.

Star power is front and center in Miami, led by Heisman Trophy candidate signal-caller Ken Dorsey, junior wide receiver Andre Johnson, and senior defensive tackle William Joseph. They also have a number of budding future All-Americans in sophomore tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., third-year sophomore left tackle Carlos Joseph, redshirt freshman cornerback Kelly Jennings and sophomore free safety Sean Taylor.

Dorsey, now a senior, has been at his best against high-level opposition, completing nearly 60 percent of his passes, while averaging around 300 yards passing per game and three touchdowns in four games against top 10 opponents. In those games, he tossed 11 TD passes compared to just three interceptions.

Willis McGahee will be looking to prove that he is more than just a standout during spring practice. He will attempt to make up for the early departure of running back Clinton Portis to the NFL. Currently, McGahee has the edge over junior Jarrett Payton on the depth chart. Sophomore Frank Gore, who was in the running to replace Portis, suffered a knee injury in the spring. They are hopeful he can be back on the field in mid-late September.

On the offensive line, Joseph will step in for Bryant McKinnie at left tackle, while junior Vernon Carey steps into the right tackle spot that was vacated by Joaquin Gonzalez. The two projected starters at guard, seniors Sherko Haji-Rasouli and Ed Wilkins, sat out spring practice while recovering from injury. Wilkins underwent shoulder surgery in January, while Haji-Rasouli is coming off November knee surgery. Senior center Brett Romberg is the only returning starter up front.

Defensively, the Hurricanes' front seven could be smothering and dominant, with the front four boasting incredible depth that goes four deep at tackle and five deep at defensive end. The second line of defense is keyed by underrated middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, an undersized, yet tremendously productive junior who led the Miami defense with 79 tackles last year. Against Nebraska in the national championship game, Vilma recorded eight tackles, three stops behind the line of scrimmage, one QB sack and a forced fumble.

With the loss of five key performers in the secondary, including cornerbacks Phillip Buchanon and Mike Rumph and free safety Edward Reed, there is no question which area should present the most trepidation for the coaching staff. At right corner, Jennings, who is viewed as a Buchanon type due to his athleticism and recovery speed, has the edge over experienced sophomore Antrel Rolle heading into fall practice.

On the left side, the jury is still out on who will open the 2002 campaign as the starter. The candidates include Maurice Sikes, a versatile cornerback and strong safety, and sophomore Alfonso Marshall, as well as a host of highly regarded incoming freshmen. Heading that list are Travarous Bain, Brandon Meriweather, Greg Threat, Terrell Walden, and Glenn Sharpe. Sikes or redshirt freshman Marcus Maxey will operate at strong safety, with Taylor, a super blue-chipper, prepared to make his mark as one of the nation's top free safeties as just a sophomore.