Miami Receiver Toney Scheduled for Ankle Surgery
The Heisman Trophy candidate will miss the upcoming game against Notre Dame and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.
By Luca Harrison ·
Malachi Toney, the leading wide receiver for the top-ranked Miami Hurricanes, has been scheduled for surgery to repair a high ankle sprain. A person with knowledge of the matter told the Associated Press on Wednesday night that the procedure will keep the player out of action for multiple weeks.
The precise length of Toney's recovery will not be determined until after the operation. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that neither the athlete nor the university had released those specific details to the public at that time. Miami officials had earlier confirmed that Toney sustained the injury during a practice session that morning. The athletic department stated he was undergoing further evaluation by medical staff and would provide updates as appropriate.
The injury presents a major challenge for the Hurricanes, who are undefeated with an 8-0 record. Miami is set to play No. 4 Notre Dame on Saturday in a matchup between the nation's top two teams in the College Football Playoff rankings. Toney has been a central figure in Miami's offensive success this season. He ranks second in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 73 catches, is tied for second with 13 touchdown receptions, and is third with 1,027 receiving yards.
Toney accounts for 35% of the team's receptions, 39% of its receiving yards, and 46% of its touchdown scores. He has played in all 24 contests since enrolling at Miami last year. Last season, he led the nation with 109 catches. This year, he broke the school record for receiving yards in a single game with 234 against Stanford and set a new school record for receptions in a game with 16 against Pitt.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman described Toney as one of the best players he has seen. Freeman noted the value of the matchup against Toney, particularly given the Irish defense's top national ranking. The game is a rematch of the season opener from a year prior, which Miami won to secure a playoff berth while Notre Dame missed out.
Miami has no bye week remaining in its schedule. The Hurricanes will play home games against Duke on November 14, Virginia Tech on November 21, and Boston College on November 28. If Miami qualifies for the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, it would play again on December 5. The national playoff begins on December 18, though a top four seed would not play its first game until at least December 30.
Toney currently has 2,238 career receiving yards, ranking sixth all-time at Miami. He is 18 receptions away from matching the school record of 200 held by Xavier Restrepo. He also stands three career touchdowns shy of the school record held by Michael Irvin. Toney and quarterback Darian Mensah are among the leading contenders for the Heisman Trophy this season.
