Video of Malachi Toney confirms everything we thought we knew about Miami this spring

Last year, Malachi Toney was a 17-year-old freshman that emerged during the spring game. This season, Toney is a Heisman contender and one of the biggest stars in college football. It would be easy to think that a player that young would struggle to handle stardom and that might be a difficult adjustment for him going into his sophomore season, but Toney isn't a normal player.

If there are any questions about Toney's mentality, you can check out reports from the recent practice where he's working hard to build chemistry with new quarterback Darian Mensah or leading the offensive skill group in contact drills.

If anything, Toney is ready to work harder and assume a bigger role as a performer on the field and off the field as a team leader.

"I take it the same way [this year] as I took it last year, as if nobody knew me," Toney said during his press conference, "I'm just taking it day-by-day and keep trying to get better."

Malachi Toney isn't taking anything for granted

Toney changed his jersey number to 1 in the offseason and that seems to be his mentality. He wants to be the leader of the Hurricanes, and he wants Miami to be number one when the season ends. There's no greater compliment to Toney's work ethic than in the words of other position coaches on the team, like offensive line coach Alex Mirabal.

That's the sort of leadership that Mario Cristobal has worked to instill in the program and when it comes from the top players on the roster, it's contagious. When young guys or incoming transfers see the best guy doing the dirty work, it sends a message that laziness will not be tolerated by anyone, regardless of talent.

Toney says that consistency is key. That's why he is going through another spring practice with the same hunger as the year before.