Miami has landed two more national honors before the season even kicks off, with wide receiver Malachi Toney and running back Mark Fletcher Jr. both earning spots on the preseason AP All-America team.
Toney was selected as a first-team preseason AP All-American on Tuesday, while Fletcher came in on the second team. The Hurricanes enter the year ranked seventh in the nation in the preseason AP poll, and the recognition gives Miami a pair of headline names to match that lofty ranking.
Toney’s breakout last season was impossible to miss. He was an AP All-ACC first-team selection and took home AP ACC Freshman Newcomer of the Year honors. He also made the AP All-American second team a year ago.
The Miami receiver has already stacked up plenty of preseason attention this summer, landing on watch lists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Paul Hornung Award and the Maxwell Award.
On the field, Toney was Miami’s most dangerous weapon last season. He finished with 1,211 receiving yards on 109 catches, both Miami program records, and scored 10 receiving touchdowns. He also added 113 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground, plus 82 passing yards and two more scores through the air.
Fletcher was Miami’s lead back last season and delivered his best production yet, rushing for a career-high 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was an All-ACC third-team selection in 2025.
Fletcher also picked up another preseason nod on Tuesday, joining the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. He had already been placed on the Walter Camp Player of the Year preseason watch list and was named a preseason All-ACC selection.
In Other News...
Mario Cristobal Takes Miami's Game Night Frustration Straight To The ACC
Mario Cristobals latest gripe with the ACC has less to do with travel or television windows than with something deeply rooted in South Florida football culture. During an interview with ESPNs Rece Davis, the Miami coach made clear he would rather keep high school football on Friday nights, pushing back on the leagues recent habit of putting early-season Hurricanes games on Fridays and Thursdays.
For Cristobal, the issue is bigger than a scheduling inconvenience. Those weekday college games create a direct conflict with the high school matchups that help define Miami-Dade County, and they also keep the Hurricanes staff from getting out to see local prospects and community programs in person. His point was simple enough: he wants a balance that lets both levels of football matter, without college scheduling crowding out one of the regions most important nights. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Freshmen Face A Huge Second Scrimmage For Bigger Roles
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Wingos path is especially interesting because the receiver room has room for movement, while Congdon is still fighting to earn a place in the offensive line mix. Miami has seen freshmen before step in and matter right away, and this group has the same kind of chance if it keeps stacking strong days in camp and carries that momentum into the next scrimmage. [Read more 🡒]
Francis Mauigoa Is Giving Miami Fans Another Reason To Brag
Francis Mauigoa is already starting to look like the kind of pro Miami fans love to claim as one of their own. The former Hurricanes offensive lineman, taken 10th overall by the New York Giants in the 2026 NFL Draft, has made a smooth early transition from college tackle to left guard, and it has shown up in preseason work that has drawn attention for all the right reasons.
What stands out most is how quickly Mauigoa has earned respect on both sides of the line. His athleticism has been a talking point, and Giants defensive tackle DJ Reader has singled out the rookies energy and the way he has affected the team, a strong early sign that Miami may have sent New York a player ready to make noise right away. [Read more 🡒]
