By Devin Mercer | M•I•A MEDIA GROUP
Malachi Toney could be back on the field as early as December, giving the Miami Hurricanes a chance to regain their leading receiver for the postseason. Coach Mario Cristobal said this week that the sophomore is on schedule in his rehabilitation after ankle surgery. The earliest timeline Cristobal has offered, about four to four and a half weeks from the procedure, puts a potential return near the Dec. 5 ACC Championship Game if Miami qualifies and Toney is cleared to play.
Toney suffered a high ankle sprain during practice Nov. 4 and underwent surgery the next morning, according to the Miami Herald. On3 reported that he was scheduled for a procedure known as TightRope surgery. The University of Miami has not publicly confirmed that the operation took place overseas. Cristobal’s update described Toney as on schedule, and the team has announced no return date.
What an early return would mean
The earliest end of Cristobal’s estimate falls just after Miami’s regular-season finale against Boston College on Nov. 28. That makes the ACC title game the first realistic opportunity on the schedule, provided the Hurricanes earn a spot. If Toney needs more time and Miami makes the College Football Playoff, the first round on Dec. 18 and 19 would give him nearly two more weeks to recover.
Miami enters Saturday’s homecoming game against Duke at 8-1, with home games against Virginia Tech and Boston College still ahead. The Hurricanes fell from No. 1 to No. 7 in the playoff rankings after their 31-24 loss at Notre Dame. The remaining games will help determine whether they reach the ACC title game and how much time Toney has before Miami’s first postseason matchup.
How Miami’s offense adjusts without him
Through eight games, Toney caught 73 passes for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns. He accounted for nearly half of Miami’s receiving touchdowns before the injury. His value shows up in the situations where quarterback Darian Mensah needs a dependable target, from a third down that can keep a drive alive to a red-zone snap with little room to work. Even during his absence, Toney’s season is drawing national recognition. He was named a finalist Thursday for the Paul Hornung Award, which honors college football’s most versatile player.
The Notre Dame game offered a look at who can carry more of the passing game in the meantime. Wide receiver Cooper Barkate caught 10 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, and tight end Elija Lofton added seven catches for 113 yards. Miami still fell behind 24-3 before rallying. Against Duke, the Hurricanes will have a chance to build on what worked in that comeback and see how the offense functions with a full week to prepare without Toney.
A December comeback would give Mensah his most productive receiver back at the point when one game can end the season. For now, Cristobal’s update gives Miami reason to be hopeful, while the Hurricanes have three regular-season games to play before that first possible return.
