The No. 1 Miami Hurricanes received some concerning injury news Wednesday when star wide receiver Malachi Toney injured his ankle in practice. Sources told CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz that Toney is expected to undergo surgery to repair the ankle, but there is hope within the program that the injury will not end the season.
Toney is the Hurricanes’ biggest offensive weapon with 73 catches, 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, and his production for the best team in the country has made him one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy alongside his quarterback, Darian Mensah.
Losing Toney the week of Miami’s biggest game would be a disaster for the Hurricanes, as Miami’s offense looks for ways to create explosive plays against a talented Notre Dame defense.
Toney’s importance to Miami’s offense
Last year’s win over Notre Dame was Toney’s breakout freshman performance, as he caught six passes for 82 yards and a touchdown in Miami’s 27-24 win to open the season. Toney is the main threat the Irish have to plan for and manage with multiple defenders, and any limitations on his ability to get down the field or move in space would be a significant loss for Miami.
Toney accounts for 35.1% of Miami’s receptions, 38.6% of receiving yards and 46.4% of receiving touchdowns this season. Cooper Barkate is second on the team in all of those categories with 28 catches for 372 yards and four touchdowns, and while talented, he doesn’t offer the same dynamic as Toney.
The Hurricanes use Toney in multiple ways, and his ability to move around formations and alignments allows Shannon Dawson to attack different defenses’ weak spots and prevents easy adjustments to what Miami is doing due to their variation. If Toney isn’t as dynamic (or isn’t in the lineup), it allows the defense to focus more on slowing down Miami’s running game.
The Hurricanes are 21st in the nation in rushing offense with 202.5 yards per game and 10th in yards per attempt with 5.49. Mark Fletcher Jr. and Javian Mallory form one of the best running back tandems in the country, but they’re made all the more effective by the respect defenses must give to the big-play threat the passing game always presents when Toney is on the field.
Notre Dame’s defense faced the difficult choice of sending more bodies into the box to slow the run or keeping the help on top to keep Toney from getting loose. The ripple effects extend far beyond the Hurricanes’ passing game.
Heisman Trophy Implications
Beyond the impact Toney’s injury will have on Miami’s biggest game of the season, Saturday’s game against Notre Dame appears to be the best opportunity for Toney (and Mensah) to create a Heisman moment on a big national stage.
Toney was second in the Heisman Trophy odds entering the week at +290 at FanDuel Sportsbook – behind Mensah at +170. After the injury was announced on Wednesday, Toney dropped all the way to +800, which now places him fourth on the odds sheet. Toney’s injury could also impact Darian Mensah’s Heisman chances, as his passing productivity would likely take a hit if his top receiver can’t play or is limited.
As a result, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is back in first place with odds at +170, Mensah slipped a touch to +200 and Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr moves to +700 as the Irish moved to a 6.5-point favorite against the Hurricanes.
CBS Sports will continue to provide updates on Toney’s status as the week progresses and more information becomes available.
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