The Miami Hurricanes' website and social media accounts have launched a double Heisman Trophy campaign for quarterback Darian Mensah and receiver Malachi Toney.
Toney leads the nation with 66 catches and ranks third in yardage (952) and receiving touchdowns (11). He also has 50 rushing yards and a highlight worthy 2-point conversion throw in the Hurricanes' double overtime thriller against Florida State.
Mensah leads all quarterbacks in completion percentage at a stunning 81.4. His touchdown to interception ratio of 22 to 1 doesn't seem possible. Add in two rushing touchdowns the ratio jumps to an overall 24-1. Mensah is currently ninth nationally in passing yards with 2.154.
Miami is heavily promoting both of them with the hashtags #Heismensah for Darian #TheOne for Malachi.
I've noticed criticism from a handful of Hurricanes fans who wonder why Miami isn't leaning into one over the other. After all, the chance of them both taking votes from one another and clearing the way for someone else to win the trophy feels likely.
- The Heisman voters will vote for who they want to vote for when the time comes. Miami promoting both won't change that.
- Both Mensah and Toney are performing so well this season that it's virtually impossible to make a case for one deserving recognition over the other.
I believe Miami is absolutely doing the right thing by leaning into both candidates.
Hurricanes fans will never forget the 2002 Heisman campaign when Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee took votes from one another. However, there are also recent examples of players winning the Heisman despite a teammate being a finalist. Matt Leinart won the award in 2004 despite USC teammate Reggie Bush also receiving an invite to New York. In 2020, Alabama receiver DeVanta Smith won the trophy over teammate Mac Jones.
The current Heisman market on Kalshi has Mensah trading in second at 26 percent and Toney third at 21 percent. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith lead the field at 38 percent. We'll have to see whether or not Smith's numbers get affected by the recent injury to starting Buckeye's QB Julian Sayin.
Between Mensah and Toney, who has the better case for a Heisman?
The award usually goes to quarterbacks - advantage Mensah. For non-QBs, versatility and variety is valued - advantage Toney. Seniority doesn't carry the weight that it used to (multiple freshmen & sophomores have won the award over the past 15 years), but seniority does favor Mensah as a fourth year player over Toney in year two. One could also argue that Toney wouldn't be leading the nation in catches if not for Mensah throwing him the football in the first place - advantage Darian.
Community impact and storylines are a plus - and that might give a slight advantage to Toney given his non-prototypical size and his impact on his home town in South Florida. This is taking nothing away from Mensah's story, of course. While Toney was highly scouted in high school, Mensah worked his way through the Group of Six at Tulane before making his impact in the Power Four. You can make a strong off-the-field case for both of them.
Between Toney and Mensah, which is more valuable overall to the Miami Hurricanes? I honestly can't give you an answer to that question without second-guessing myself.
You can make Heisman-worthy cases for both Mensah and Toney. I expect to see them both in New York City on December 12th.
