Mohamed Toure has been through more than most college football players ever will - two torn ACLs, a transfer, and nearly a decade of grinding through the highs and lows of the sport. And now, instead of gearing up for the NFL Draft, the Miami linebacker is running it back for one final ride. According to multiple reports, Toure will return to the Hurricanes for his eighth collegiate season - and that’s a massive win for a Miami defense in transition.
Toure led Miami with 84 tackles this past season and was a steadying force in a defense that made it all the way to the College Football Playoff National Championship. Even though the Hurricanes came up just short in a 27-21 loss to Indiana, Toure’s impact was undeniable. He played like a man on a mission - and now, he’s not done yet.
The Hurricanes are set to lose longtime starter Wesley Bissainthe along with veteran linebackers Chase Smith and Jaylin Alderman. That’s a lot of experience walking out the door. Toure’s return gives Miami a proven leader in the heart of its defense - someone who’s seen it all and can help bridge the gap for a unit undergoing a serious retool.
But the linebacker room is still in flux. Popo Aguirre, who was expected to start alongside Toure next season, is reportedly entering the transfer portal. That puts even more weight on Toure’s shoulders - and if his past is any indication, he’s more than ready to carry it.
“I feel like as the season went on, I’ve just gotten more and more back to myself,” Toure said before the title game. “I feel like right now, I’m kind of playing my best ball, and I just want to finish strong.”
That quote says a lot. After everything he’s been through - injuries, transfers, setbacks - Toure feels like he’s finally back to being the player he knows he can be. And if that’s true, the Hurricanes are getting not just a veteran presence, but a difference-maker in the middle of their defense.
Toure’s journey started at Rutgers, where he committed back in 2018 and began his college career in 2019. He redshirted that first year, then played in 2020’s COVID-shortened season before breaking out in 2021 with 51 tackles. By then, he was already being talked about as one of the Big Ten’s rising stars at linebacker.
Then came the setbacks. A torn ACL during spring practice in 2022 cost him the entire season.
He bounced back in 2023 with a career-best 93 tackles, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. But when he opted to return to Rutgers in 2024 instead of entering the NFL Draft, fate struck again - another torn ACL, this time in training camp.
That second injury was a gut punch.
“I was heartbroken, if I’m being honest,” Toure said. “I was coming off of a great year and in that moment, I felt like I messed up… But I can honestly say, going through all of that, going through a torn ACL two times, prepared me for life.”
After that, Toure knew he needed a fresh start. He visited Indiana and Penn State before choosing Miami, where he reunited with defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman - the same coach who had mentored him at Rutgers.
The two had built a strong bond during their time in New Jersey, often staying late to study film and game prep. That trust and familiarity helped make Miami feel like home.
“I’ll forever love Rutgers,” Toure said. “But there were a lot of dark moments where I just was messed up mentally… It just felt like it was time to get out of there and time to put myself in a new space, a new area around new people.”
At Miami, Toure found that new beginning - and he thrived. He was named an honorable mention All-ACC selection and totaled 251 career tackles, including 25.5 for loss and 15.5 sacks. More importantly, he became the emotional and vocal leader of the defense, embodying the culture Hetherman wanted to build.
“He’s got the right fit. His eyes are in the right spot and playing top-down and doing what he needs to do in the blitz,” Hetherman said. “His ability to overcome… that has just made him a stronger person and a better person off the field.”
Now, with one more season ahead, Toure will be the cornerstone of a retooled Miami defense and the heartbeat of a locker room that’s already rallied around him. The NFL can wait. Right now, Toure is focused on finishing what he started - on his terms.
“One thing that I picked up from Greg Schiano that I will use for the rest of my life: just chop one moment at a time,” Toure said.
And that’s exactly what he’s doing - one moment, one tackle, one season at a time.