A freshman standout, strong defense and more takeaways from the Hurricanes' spring game

Miami Herald

12-04-2025

Before the Miami Hurricanes began their spring game on Saturday, coach Mario Cristobal got on a microphone at midfield and addressed the crowd in attendance.
'Remember one thing while you're out there watching today,' Cristobal bellowed. 'Understand it's always us against everybody. And if you're a real Miami Hurricane, you understand, so let these players feel you.'
The Hurricanes played a modified scrimmage for a little over an hour at Cobb Stadium, the home of UM's soccer and track and field teams, with a crowd of about 5,500 in attendance. The first half was full contact (except for quarterbacks) while the second half was non-tackling.
It was the culmination of Miami's 15-practice session for the spring, with the team now breaking until late July when they begin preparation for the 2025 season and their Aug. 31 season opener against Notre Dame.
Here are four takeaways from the scrimmage.
A freshman wide receiver steals the show: If anyone had a standout day on Saturday, it was wide receiver Malachi Toney. He was consistent in the slot and showcased breakout potential both on short plays up the middle and down the field.
He hauled in the only touchdown of the day for the offense, catching a pass from Emory Williams up the middle while being blanketed by cornerback Charles Brantley and ran the rest of the way for a 22-yard score. He had a few other big plays one drive earlier with Luke Nickel at quarterback, including what should have been another touchdown that was negated because a sack was called prior to the throw.
(Because quarterbacks weren't being tackled, refs blew the whistle when a defender got close enough to the quarterback).
'I felt great,' Toney said. 'I just felt like I went out there and do what I usually do: Be myself with my God-given talent.'
Toney was a four-star prospect out of Plantation American Heritage and reclassified from the Class of 2026 to enroll at Miami a year early.
Toney described himself as a 'game changer.'
'Just put the ball in his hands and just let him do what he do,' Toney said. 'He's a team player. He's gonna do whatever's best for the University of Miami. And that's why I feel like it was a great fit for me to stay home and do what's best for my city, my state, and just to put on and show off.'
Toney is competing with junior Ray Ray Joseph to be Miami's starting slot receiver.
Cristobal said Toney's maturity and preparation stuck out the most this spring.
'He's going to come in and watch some extra films, spend time with some of the veteran players and spend time with the coaches and learn what he has to get better at,' Cristobal said. 'You could push him hard. ... He knows he has a ways to go, but he's had a great start to spring, and we are going to push him really hard this summer to make sure we maximize his potential.'
Corey Hetherman's defense bends but doesn't break: Saturday was the first time new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman's defense was seen in a live setting.
And the group impressed.
Across seven drives over the first half of the scrimmage when tackling was allowed, the defense gave up points on just two drives — the Toney touchdown and a 25-yard field goal by FAU transfer Carter Davis as time expired.
Three other drives ended in turnovers — a pair of fumble recoveries and an interception by freshman Amari Wallace. A fourth was a goal-line stand after a 14-play drive, with running back Mark Fletcher Jr. stuffed by linebacker Raul 'Popo' Aguirre on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
'We kind of needed that,' Cristobal said of the goal-line stand. 'We hadn't done a bunch of short yardage. and goal line in the spring, but that was overall a great job by the defense.
Emory Williams stands out among quarterbacks: With starter and Georgia transfer Carson Beck not throwing as he recovers from December elbow surgery, the trio of Williams, Nickel and Judd Anderson handled all quarterback duties on Saturday.
Williams, who will be a redshirt sophomore in 2025, was the sharpest of the group although the majority of his passes were short and intermediate. He will enter fall as the front runner to be Beck's backup.
Nickel, a true freshman, had his moments as well.
As for Beck, he is slated to start throwing next week.
The team has understandably been cautious with Beck, who will take over for potential No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward next season. While Beck didn't throw during Miami's month-plus of practices, he was involved in every other aspect of work during the spring and should be good to go for the Hurricanes' season opener against Notre Dame on Aug. 31.
'His football IQ is really high,' offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said Thursday. 'When you talk to him about plays, the regurgitation of plays in the meeting room you can tell he's played a lot of football. Also his personality comes out over time. He's a guy that once you spend a lot of time around him and get to know him he's a funny guy to be around, his personality comes out.'
Missing players: A number of key players didn't participate in the spring game, most notably wide receiver Joshisa Trader, tight end Elija Lofton and defensive tackle Ahmad Moten. Defensive ends Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor did not participate in the tackling portion.
'A couple guys were held out due to being nicked up or bumped up,' Cristobal said. 'Nothing major. We don't see anything major.'