Two of the top players in the ACC call Miami home.
Hurricanes star defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. and breakout freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney each earned individual awards from the ACC on Wednesday. Bain was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and Toney was picked as both the Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Both Bain and Toney were named All-ACC first-teamers on Tuesday, as well. Toney was named to the all-conference team twice — he was a first-team wide receiver and second-team all-purpose player (the latter takes his quarterbacking and special-teams performances into account, as well).
Bain, a Miami native, was one of the nation’s top defensive players this year. The junior defensive end had 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. But his relatively low traditional statistics belied a stellar season. Bain had a 92.9 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, which was second-best in the nation. Bain was fifth in the nation with 57 total quarterback pressures.
Bain is considered a likely high first-round NFL draft pick, with ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. listing him as the top defensive-line prospect.
Toney, an American Heritage alum, burst onto the scene this year when Miami beat Notre Dame in the season-opener, and he has only gotten better. He set the UM freshman record for receiving yards (970) and is one catch behind Xavier Restrepo for the single-season reception record. If Toney passes the 1,000-yard mark in the postseason, he will be the seventh Miami receiver with a 1,000-yard season.
PFF gives Toney a 90.4 receiving grade, which is the best among freshmen and trails only star wide receivers Makai Lemon (USC) and Wyatt Young (North Texas).
