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Malachi Toney and Darian Mensah didn't wait for spring to begin building a strong bond

Did Toney and Mensah just become best friends this offseason?
Jan 17, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (10) talks to the media during media day for the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship at Miami Beach Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Jan 17, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (10) talks to the media during media day for the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship at Miami Beach Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The minute Darian Mensah's transfer to Miami was complete, fans were immediately thinking about a season of the combination of Mensah and Malachi Toney becoming a playmaking machine for the Hurricanes.

Early video of the two in passing drills rightfully got everyone excited. They already look so smooth and in sync despite playing together for the first time. But Toney has peeled back some of the layers of their bond since becoming teammates, and it's everything that Hurricane fans hoped for.

"That's my dawg, I call him D-Dawg. That's my guy man," Toney said. "We've just grown closer ever since he got here. Day one since he got here, and we're going to keep building our bond and our relationship on and off the field."

Malachi Toney goes in detail on his friendship with Darian Mensah

Mensah's transfer from Duke was an ordeal and if the two got off to a slow start this spring it probably would've been understandable. But with championship expectations in the program. Mensah and Toney wasted no time in building their on-field chemistry. They went to Los Angeles to train and workout with Jordan Palmer for a week, and they've also been hanging out regularly since Mensah got on campus.

"He came by the house to watch the Super Bowl. We ate, watched the game. We were just joking.., little things like that matter," Toney added.

The spotlight on Mensah is going to be brighter than it's ever been before. He was great at Duke, but he'll be expected to win a championship at Miami. Toney is going to be key to helping Mensah stay level as the season approaches. The talent that Mensah possesses will never be an issue, but the pressure is something that Toney has already dealt with and is something that he can help Mensah get used to. 

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