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Saints Select Hurricanes TE Jimmy Graham In Third Round

UM tight end converted to football in 2009 after playing hoops for Canes

JIMMY GRAHAM

Tight End/Offensive Tackle

University of Miami Hurricanes

#80

6:06.3-259

Goldsboro, North Carolina

Charis Preparatory Academy

OVERVIEW

A valuable performer on the Hurricanes basketball team for four seasons, Graham made a successful transition from the hardwood court to the gridiron as a fifth-year senior at Miami in 2009. While his football experience is limited, as it was just a secondary sport he played during his high school days, Graham is a prime candidate for a team that can afford to develop him and has a patient coaching staff as he continues to acclimate to playing the game.

The former UM basketball star is a big, physical athlete who was one of only eight players in Miami basketball history with 100 or more career blocks. He helped the Hurricanes compete in back-to-back postseason appearances (NCAA Tournament in 2008 and NIT in 2009) before earning a Business degree with a double major in Marketing and Management last May.

At Charis Prep, Graham earned All-American honorable mention from Street & Smith magazine, in addition to garnering All-State, Conference MVP and team MVP honors. He was rated the 60th-best overall prospect and the 16th-best power forward in the prep ranks by Rivals.com.

In his final season, Graham averaged 20.7 points, 13.8 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game. During his junior season, he blocked eight shots, grabbed 15.1 rebounds and scored 18.2 points per game. He also lettered in football, baseball and tennis.

During the 2004-05 season at Miami, Graham started 10-of-34 games. The Academic All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection played an average of 10.6 minutes per game, scoring 1.8 points and 2.2 rebounds each contest. A broken hand in 2006-07 forced the forward to miss eight games. He started 10-of-24 contests, again earning Academic All-ACC honors. He finished second on the team in field goal percentage (.538), averaging 4.0 rebounds and 5.6 points for the Hurricanes.

Graham became an integral part of Miami's NCAA Tournament team in 2007-08. He started 32-of-34 games, hitting 52.6% from the field, the second-best mark on the squad. He was named the team's Outstanding Defender while making 71-of-136 field goals and 50-of-86 free throws to go with a team-high 37 blocked shots.

In his final season with the hoops squad, Graham started 10-of-30 games for the 2009 NIT Tournament-bound unit. Called the team's "spark plug," he blocked 36 shots, giving him 104 blocks for his career, eighth-best in school history. He reverted into a top-level defender, sacrificing his scoring touch, as he scored just 4.0 points per game, but he hit the boards with a vengeance, evident by his 5.9-rebounds per game average.

Graham joined the Miami Hurricanes football team in 2009. He appeared in thirteen games, seeing action mostly as a reserve tight end. He finished with only seventeen receptions for 213 yards (12.53 ypc), but scored on five of those grabs. He also saw time on special teams, recording a solo tackle while returning three short kickoffs 30 yards. As a blocker, he was credited 30 knockdowns.

2009 FOOTBALL SEASON

Played in thirteen games, starting the Virginia Tech contest as an extra tight end…Caught just seventeen passes for 213 yards (12.53 ypc), but five of those grabs were good for touchdowns…Each of his first three career catches resulted in scores…Recorded 30 points…Recorded a solo tackle vs. Clemson and gained 30 yards on three kickoff returns (10.0 avg)…Registered 30 knockdown blocks.

BASKETBALL CAREER NOTES

Graham appeared in 120 games, starting 39 contests for the Miami basketball team…His 104 blocked shots rank eighth in school history and placed fourth among active Atlantic Coast Conference hoopsters…Made 50.8% of his field goals (202-of-398) and 105-of-208 free throws (50.5%), scoring 509 points, an average of 4.24 points per game…Grabbed a total of 502 rebounds (4.2 rpg), as he totaled 63 steals and 47 assists…Tied for tenth in program history with 120 career games played.

CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS

4.72 in the 40-yard dash…1.64 10-yard dash…2.72 20-yard dash…4.33 20-yard shuttle…11.84 60-yard shuttle…7.28 three-cone drill…40-inch vertical jump…10'3" broad jump… 34 ¾-inch arm length…10 5/8-inch hands.

HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Charis Preparatory Academy (N.C.), playing basketball for head coach Carlos Peralta…Earned All-American honorable mention from Street & Smith magazine, in addition to garnering All-State, Conference MVP and team MVP honors…Rated the 60th-best overall prospect and the 16th-best power forward in the prep ranks by Rivals.com…In his final season, Graham averaged 20.7 points, 13.8 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game…During his junior season, he blocked eight shots, grabbed 15.1 rebounds and scored 18.2 points per game…Also lettered in football, baseball and tennis.

PERSONAL

Earned a Business degree with a double major in Marketing and Management in May, 2009…Two-time Academic All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection…Resides in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

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