Eric Winston
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inducted 2024 |
A consensus All-American in his final season of a standout career at The U, Eric Winston was the anchor for the Miami Hurricanes’ offensive line during his four years in Coral Gables.
Winston, who arrived at Miami as a tight end in 2002, played in all 13 games as a true freshman before making the transition to offensive line prior to his sophomore season of 2003. That year, Eric emerged as one of the team’s top performers on the OL, helping lead the Hurricanes to a share of the BIG EAST title.
The Midland, Texas native, who loomed over opponents as a towering 6-foot-7 force, might have been an All-American in 2004 if not for a knee injury four games in that forced him to miss the remainder of the season.
He returned with a vengeance, earning 2005 All-America honors by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the American Football Coaches Association, Sports Illustrated, and Rivals.com, and was a second-team selection by the AP. The offensive lineman was the winner of the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy, named the league’s best blocker by vote of ACC coaches, and was a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award that is given to the nation’s outstanding college football lineman.
Before arriving at Miami, Winston won three Texas Class 5A state titles at Lee High School, where he was ranked among the top prospects in the nation. Eric was a two-time first-team all-state selection and ranked among the nation’s best tight ends.
He would go on to be selected in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, where he was a starter at tackle from 2006 to 2011. Winston would play 12 seasons in the NFL, spending time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks and finishing his career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017.
Towards the tail end of his playing days, Eric was elected president of the National Football Players Association (NFLPA) in 2014. He served in that role until 2020.
Winston, who arrived at Miami as a tight end in 2002, played in all 13 games as a true freshman before making the transition to offensive line prior to his sophomore season of 2003. That year, Eric emerged as one of the team’s top performers on the OL, helping lead the Hurricanes to a share of the BIG EAST title.
The Midland, Texas native, who loomed over opponents as a towering 6-foot-7 force, might have been an All-American in 2004 if not for a knee injury four games in that forced him to miss the remainder of the season.
He returned with a vengeance, earning 2005 All-America honors by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the American Football Coaches Association, Sports Illustrated, and Rivals.com, and was a second-team selection by the AP. The offensive lineman was the winner of the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy, named the league’s best blocker by vote of ACC coaches, and was a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award that is given to the nation’s outstanding college football lineman.
Before arriving at Miami, Winston won three Texas Class 5A state titles at Lee High School, where he was ranked among the top prospects in the nation. Eric was a two-time first-team all-state selection and ranked among the nation’s best tight ends.
He would go on to be selected in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, where he was a starter at tackle from 2006 to 2011. Winston would play 12 seasons in the NFL, spending time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks and finishing his career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017.
Towards the tail end of his playing days, Eric was elected president of the National Football Players Association (NFLPA) in 2014. He served in that role until 2020.
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