Star wide receiver Malachi Toney claims the number one, ushering in a new era for the Miami Hurricanes' explosive offense and championship aspirations.
It was announced on Tuesday that Miami Hurricanes star wide receiver Malachi Toney will switch jersey numbers for the upcoming season. He will go from number 10 to one, which he wore previously at American Heritage Schools.
There was speculation about this happening, especially after wide receiver Joshisa Trader entered the transfer portal and committed to an ACC opponent in the North Carolina State Wolfpack. He will join a couple of other former Hurricanes, such as wide receiver Chance Robinson and linebacker Raul Aguirre Jr.
Also, with Toney switching to one, that will leave 10 for All-ACC quarterback Darian Mensah, who wore that number with the Duke Blue Devils and Tulane Green Wave.
The 18-year-old is coming off a historic freshman season: catching a nation-high 109 passes for 1,211 yards, 11.1 yards per catch, and scoring 10 touchdowns after playing in all 16 games.
Toney showed versatility and willingness to do right by the team consistently on the field. Whether it was rushing the ball, throwing it on trick plays, blocking on routes, or setting up the offense in strong field position through special teams, he showed the capabilities to do it all.
The Hurricanes revamped the wide receiver room, as veterans CJ Daniels and Keelan Marion declared for the upcoming NFL draft. They added Cooper Barkate, Vandrevius Jacobs, and Cam Vaughn through the transfer portal, plus top-100 and four-star incoming freshman Somourian Wingo from St. Augustine High School.
Toney is expected to take another leap in production, even after playing a critical role in the team's historic National Championship run. He will likely be the Hurricanes' top wide receiver option for the entire upcoming season.
There will be opportunities to run more explosive plays with Mensah's accuracy to throw down the field, an option that wasn't always available with quarterback Carson Beck.
Toney was named the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, and All-ACC First Team. He's expected to carve out an All-American season, with possibilities of being a Heisman Trophy candidate.
The Hurricanes' offense could be among the best in the nation with an upgrade at the quarterback position and revamping the roster. Plus, the program retained all running backs, such as star Mark Fletcher Jr., CharMar Brown, Girard Pringle Jr., and Jordan Lyle, for next season. The run game was a strong factor in the team's success last season.
Toney will be the face of the Hurricanes next season, with hopes of carving out another National Championship run, but with different results.
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