Mario Cristobal sees the Miami Hurricanes’ future getting bigger, faster and stronger right in front of him.
That growth starts with Malachi Toney, the receiver Cristobal described as a player whose role is only going to keep expanding. On The Joe Rose Show on 104.3 WQAM, Cristobal pointed to both Toney’s production and the physical jump he has made.
"I think his role expands," head coach Mario Cristobal said about Malachi Toney on The Joe Rose Show on 104.3 WQAM. "Malachi, you've seen him and the way he approaches training.
And his body has changed as well. He's another 10 pounds thicker, heavier, stronger, faster, and more explosive.
You can't put enough on his plate. He's always seeking more.
"And he's brought a lot of guys along with him. And his success is going to certainly-the other guys are going to benefit from it because he attracts a lot of attention as it relates to coverage and whatnot. So yeah, you can expect his role to expand even more."
Toney’s value is obvious because of the kind of talent he is, but Cristobal’s point was just as much about the way the freshman has developed. The added size and explosiveness have made him even more of a problem for opposing defenses.
Miami’s young talent up front is following a similar path. Cristobal said the Hurricanes knew from the moment they signed Rueben Bain and Akeem Mesidor that they would have to keep chasing the next wave of difference-makers, because elite players do not stay in college forever.
"It's, let's go find out, right? I mean, the moment we signed Rueben Bain and Akeem Mesidor, we knew like right away you had to be on a mission to get the next great one because in college football, if they're really good, they're gone in three years," Cristobal said.
"So we've had them in the program. Now, they haven't been able to play as much because those guys don't want to come off the field.
But you've been at practice and you've seen the way we practice. And they have been in big moments in games.
Marquise Lightfoot is in there against Ohio State. Herbert Scroggins is in there against A&M on that final drive."
Lightfoot and Scroggins were part of Miami’s run to the National Championship game, but they were not the only young defenders making their mark. Armondo Blount has also taken a clear step forward, turning into the kind of player the staff expected when he arrived.
"You watch, I mean, Armondo Blount, man. Like, let's talk about that guy, right?"
Cristobal said. "A guy that early enrolled, came in with, he's a little bit banged up, and has developed into an unbelievable player, and a guy that's now 276 pounds and running like an absolute, you know, stud.
So we're really excited about these guys. I don't ever predict or compare.
I think that's unfair to both sides. But in terms of our enthusiasm for the guys coming up, yeah, brother, we're ready to turn these guys loose."
Blount played more in his second season in orange and green, finishing last year with 17 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. While Lightfoot draws attention for his speed and flash, Blount has become the steady edge presence, the kind of player who helps clean things up the way Bain and Mesidor do.
That gives him an important role this season, including more chances to line up with Damon Wilson II in set pieces. For Miami, Blount stands out as one of the defensive line’s key x-factors, with the potential to shape how far the Hurricanes can go.
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