First came offensive lineman Orlando Franklin, then cornerback Brandon Harris, and the University of Miami’s storied tradition of having several of its players taken in the annual NFL Draft was alive and on a roll.

In all, eight Miami Hurricanes were selected in last week’s 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York, the second most of any school in the nation, and several others are expected to sign free-agent contracts as soon as the lockout is lifted.

The eight players drafted include Orlando Franklin, Brandon Harris, Leonard Hankerson, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Allen Bailey, Colin McCarthy, Richard Gordon, and Matt Bosher. Here’s a look at how they might fit in on their respective teams.

The first ’Cane drafted was offensive lineman Orlando Franklin, who went to the Denver Broncos with the 46th pick in the second round. Franklin joins an offensive line that lacks good depth. He could be a possible replacement for right tackle Ryan Harris, who could become a free agent. Chris Kuper appears to have solidified one of the starting guard spots, but Zene Beadles, who was decent as a rookie at guard, still has question marks. Franklin played both guard and tackle in college and gives the Broncos a versatile option on their thin offensive line.

The next Hurricane selected was cornerback Brandon Harris, who went to the Houston Texans with the 60th pick in the second round. Harris joins a very young secondary and could see valuable playing time immediately. Kareem Jackson and Glover Quin are listed as the starters on the depth chart right now, but both have fairly limited NFL experience. Secondary was a huge weakness for the Texans during the 2010 season, as they ranked last in the league in pass defense. Don’t be surprised to see Harris vying for a starting job right away.

The third ’Cane taken in the NFL Draft was wide receiver Leonard Hankerson, who was selected by the Washington Redskins with the 79th pick in the third round. Hankerson will likely join former Hurricane Santana Moss as well as second-year player Anthony Armstrong atop the Skins depth chart this fall. Regardless, Hankerson should get significant playing time pretty quickly.

Two picks later with the 81st pick in the third round, the Oakland Raiders selected cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke. Al Davis typically likes to draft guys with a lot of speed, and Van Dyke certainly fits that mold. Van Dyke joins a secondary that might need some security. If the Raiders are unable to sign star Nnamdi Asomugha or Stanford Routt, the second-ranked pass defense from a year ago will suddenly be in a bit of trouble. Van Dyke could see some early action either way, especially considering his expected contributions on special teams.

Defensive lineman Allen Bailey was the next Hurricane that heard his name called. The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Bailey with the 86th pick in the third round. Bailey played both defensive end and defensive tackle in college, so he gives the Chiefs some versatility. Although Kansas City does look strong on the defensive line, Bailey should see a lot of time with the second team and could find his way into the rotation at some point.

Linebacker Colin McCarthy was the sixth ’Cane selected when the Tennessee Titans drafted him with the 109th pick in the fourth round. McCarthy joins a linebacking core that could potentially use a lot of help if Stephen Tulloch decides to leave for free agency. That could possibly put McCarthy into contention for a starting job. Either way, McCarthy is expected to be a special teams player and should see some significant time on the second team.

The seventh ’Cane taken was tight end Richard Gordon, who went to the Oakland Raiders with the 181st pick of the sixth round. Gordon has great speed for a tight end and has very good size, along with good run-blocking abilities. He has the potential to be a big contributor on special teams, and if he continues to work on his pass catching ability, he could be a dependable blocking tight end down the road.

Punter Matt Bosher was the eighth and final Miami Hurricane taken in this year’s draft, selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 192nd pick in the sixth round. The Falcons ranked 25th in punting last season, so it is very possible that Bosher could win the starting job in Atlanta. Bosher not only punts but is also an excellent placekicker. His versatility was a key factor in him being drafted, as it is rare for punters to be drafted in the sixth round.