It's a roll call that takes you on soaring flights of fancy: Michael Irvin, Lamar Thomas, Andre Johnson, Eddie Brown.

The names can take your breath away: Reggie Wayne, Santana Moss, Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow, Bubba Franks.

But recently, discussing the feats of University of Miami receivers and tight ends took you on a nostalgia trip that ran into a dead end.

No more. UM's 33-17 unmasking of No. 14 Georgia Tech on Thursday night at Land Shark Stadium was an aerial tour de force.

The game confirmed that quarterback Jacory Harris has an incredible array of targets. Nine different players caught the ball. Even a former shot-blocking basketball player hauled in a touchdown pass.

We know that sophomore Harris is good and on his way to being great, perhaps someday joining the circle of revered Hurricane quarterbacks.

In undefeated UM's second straight game on national TV we are getting a clearer picture of why. He's throwing to players with soft hands and sure feet: LaRon Byrd, Dedrick Epps, Travis Benjamin.

If they are not open, there's Graig Cooper, Leonard Hankerson, Tervaris Johnson, Jimmy Graham.

Harris has a bottomless well to draw from. Holder Matt Perrelli was about the only guy not open, but he's probably being saved for one of offensive coordinator Mark Whipple's trick plays.

These catchers are like Johnny Bench. They don't miss.

They are a primary reason UM has vaulted back into national relevance and Atlantic Coast Conference contention. They can thank Harris, who floats the ball like he's tossing a bouquet but manages to get it right in the sweet spot. They can thank their offensive linemen, who have been quietly dominant.

Georgia Tech's ballyhooed triple option offense looked clunky in gaining just 95 yards while Harris and his receivers gained 270 and scored three touchdowns.

Former Dolphin Mark Duper has compared the Hurricanes' current receiving corps to the one Dan Marino had in 1984, which included himself, Mark Clayton, Nat Moore and Jimmy Cefalo.

He came to Miami from Jacksonville this summer to help Hankerson, who was known for dropping balls. Hankerson, who was coached by Cris Carter at St. Thomas Aquinas High, caught 100 balls a day for 12 days under Duper's tutelage. It worked.

The last star receiver at UM was Sinorice Moss. Then there was a drought.

During a three-year span under Larry Coker, the Hurricanes only managed to sign one of the receivers recruited. Lance Leggett and Ryan Moore were disappointments.

Now, third-year coach Randy Shannon's recruits are blooming. Only Epps, Graham and Tervaris Johnson are seniors.

And all this depth and talent with a slimmer Aldarius Johnson out due to a groin injury. Waiting in the wings: Thearon Collier, Tommy Streeter and Kendal Thompkins, who grew up in the speed capital of Miami.

Benjamin, dreadlocks flying like a cape, has worked hard to become a more precise route runner. He's an all-purpose threat.

The 6-4 Byrd remind one of the NFL's Larry Fitzgerald. When he goes up he comes down with the ball. Byrd made a tape of great pro receivers and studies it daily. He wears Irvin's jersey number. This was his coming out game.

Epps is looking fine just eight months after ligament surgery. He's drawing comparisons to Shockey and his favorite Cane, Winslow.

Graham grabbed a 14-yard pass from Harris and bulled over his defender like he was a skinny point guard. Graham, 6-8 and 260 pounds, likes to watch the Food Network.

``This offense is not selfish,'' Byrd said. ``We don't care if Javarris [James] catches 10 passes, if I catch 10 passes as long as we're moving down the field and scoring points.''

Whipple swears he wants to run the ball. But UM came out throwing. He's looking like a brilliant hire by Shannon, who lured Whipple from the NFL, where he groomed Ben Roethlisberger.

During 16 years as a collegiate head coach, his trademark was offenses with volume, volume, volume. His 1998 Massachusetts national championship team set school records for points, touchdowns, total yards and passing yards. His 1997 Brown team set Ivy League records for total offense.

Now he's coaching a quarterback and a group of receivers that must make him salivate.

Harris to Hankerson, Byrd, Epps, Benjamin, Cooper. It harkens back to the days of Steve Walsh to Irvin, Gino Torretta to Thomas, Ken Dorsey to Johnson and Shockey.

Those were the glory days. On Thursday, Harris and Co., gave us a preview of exciting days to come.

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