Darian Mensah, Malachi Toney light up Heisman reel on 1st Miami drives

It didn't take long for Miami Hurricanes fans to see what the Darian Mensah to Malachi Toney connection might look like in 2026. Toney torched the record books in his freshman season, setting school records with 109 catches for 1,211 yards as a freshman. And Mensah finished second in the nation with

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What is the story about?

It didn't take long for Miami Hurricanes fans to see what the Darian Mensah to Malachi Toney connection might look like in 2026.

Toney torched the record books in his freshman season, setting school records with 109 catches for 1,211 yards as a freshman. And Mensah finished second in the nation with 3,973 passing yards and 34 touchdowns for Duke, pairing that with just six interceptions.

Mensah replaced Carson Beck for the national runners-up this year, and both entered the season with viable Heisman campaigns. And on the first drive of the first game against Stanford, it became clear that those early projections were not overblown.

On the opening play, Mensah found Toney on a perfect stick route for a 48-yard catch-and-run. Toney nearly sprung

a game-opening touchdown, but the sideline limited his escape options from a downfield tackle.

First play of the season and Malachi Toney is already cooking DBspic.twitter.com/umxMgznVjT

— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 5, 2026

He didn't have to wait long for that TD though. After two more plays (and another catch), Mensah hung on through a hit to the head to deliver a beauty of a floater to a wide-open Toney for a 23-yard TD.

It never gets old 😮‍💨🔥

📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/4oV9lW8FzL
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) September 5, 2026

Toney celebrated by hitting the Heisman pose. On the opening drive alone, he had three catches for 75 yards and a score.

But that wasn't all! On Miami's second possession, Toney found the end zone again, working the overmatched cornerback to get open on a 2-yard slant at the goal line. He once again celebrated by hitting the Heisman.