Rueben Bain and Malachi Toney earn ACC Player of the Year honors

The ACC named Miami Junior defensive lineman Rueben Bain the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year and freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney earned the Offensive Rookie and Rookie of the Year on Wednesday.

Bain has 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one interception, one pass defended and one forced fumble in 2025. Pro Football Focus credits Bain with a 92.9 overall grade, a 91.9 pass-rush grade, and an 88.4 run-defense grade in the 2025 season with 57 quarterback pressures.

Bain's stats have been slightly down from his dominant freshman season as opponents double-team him and scheme to limit his effectiveness. The NFL Mock Draft Database, a consensus of multiple sites, has projected Bain as the top pick in 2026 since November 15.

Bain received 40 of the 82 votes as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was the runner-up with seven votes to Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King as the ACC Player of the Year. Bain is a strong candidate for first-team All-American.

After reclassifying from the 2026 class, Toney has had a record-setting season. Toney should break the Miami single-season reception record and set the program freshman standard for receiving yards. Toney has 84 receptions for 970 yards and seven TDs and 17 carries for 89 yards and a TD.

Toney shows his versatility

Toney has added four completions in six attempts for 89 yards and another two scores. Toney received 44 out of the 82 votes for ACC Rookie of the Year and 46 as the Offensive Rookie of the Year. The ACC also named Toney first-team All-Conference as a WR and second-team as an all-purpose player.

Toney is almost guaranteed to be named a freshman All-American. Miami had a 10-2 season in large part because of the performances of Bain and Toney. Bain was the best defensive player for Miami in 2025 and Toney has been the top offensive and special teams performer for the Hurricanes this season.