Ten nuggets, thoughts, grades, snap count data, national reaction on UM’s offense

University of Miami admin September 5, 2026 0 Comments

Ten nuggets, thoughts, grades, snap count data, national reaction on UM’s offense

Ten nuggets, data points and thoughts on UM’s offense in the aftermath of the 45-6 win at Stanford:

▪ Everyone knew how accurate Darian Mensah was before Friday – a UM staffer kept raving about it throughout closed practices in August – but what we witnessed Friday was ridiculous.

In finishing 27 for 30 for 401 yards, Mensah went an incredible 12 for 14 on passes thrown 10 yards or more.

He was 4 for 6 for 143 yards and three touchdowns on passes that traveled at least 20 air yards.

He was 6 for 6 for 120 yards and a TD on passes that traveled 10 to 19 air yards.

He was 5 for 5 on throws for 37 yards on passes thrown behind the line of scrimmage and 12 for 12 for 100 yards and a touchdown on passes thrown 0 to 9 yards.

Mensah, who was removed in the third quarter, set UM records for passing yards and touchdown passes by a Canes quarterback in a debut.

No wonder ESPN’s Louis Riddick – who has been one of Mensah’s biggest advocates – tweeted “Heismansah” during the game.

▪ As draft prospects, Mensah and several other QBs are widely rated behind Oregon’s Dante Moore and Texas’ Arch Manning. But Friday certainly helped his stock.

He “showed extreme poise, accuracy, touch, and had consistent answers vs. the blitz,” ESPN No. 3 draft analyst Jordan Reid said.

Mensah, incidentally, became the fifth player in NCAA history to finish a game with a 90% completion percentage, 400 yards passing, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

▪ We’re always fortunate to be able to watch greatness, and Malachi Toney certainly qualifies.

Even former NFL players couldn’t curb their enthusiasm after Friday’s 12-reception, 234-yard epic performance that broke Eddie Brown’s single game UM passing yardage record.

“Malachi Toney is truly unguardable,” ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel said. “If only the Heisman wasn’t a QB award.”

ESPN personality (and former NFL punter) Pat McAfee said: “Miami’s Malachi Toney on pace to win The Heisman. These numbers are about to be biblical for Baby Jesus.”

▪ Here’s something else I find remarkable about Toney: He doesn’t have a single drop in 154 career targets. He has caught 121 of those passes with 13 touchdowns. No FBS player in the last 10 years has that many receptions without a drop.

I have little doubt that if it had been a priority Friday (and no, it shouldn’t have been), Toney could have broken the FBS single game receiving yard record (405, on 22 catches) by Louisiana Tech’s Troy Edwards.

Nevada’s Trevor Insley owns the FBS season receiving yardage record with 2060, set in 1998.

“The burst and acceleration are special, but his route tempo and stemwork are equally impressive,” said longtime draft analyst Dane Brugler, of The Athletic. “High pick in the 2028 NFL Draft.”

▪ Toney’s incredible gifts can unintentionally overshadow the rest of UM’s receiver room, but it shouldn’t. Cooper Barkate came as advertised Friday, with four catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.

We love how offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson used a bunch formation with four receivers on one side and Barkate on the other. Barkate was targeted (and caught passes) twice on those plays, and he’s going to consistently beat man coverage.

Daylyn Upshaw showed great concentration on an over-the-shoulder TD catch, closing with three receptions for 30 yards. Joshua Moore chipped in three catches for 36 yards. It’s easy to see why both of them beat out West Virginia transfer Cam Vaughn, who was jettisoned by the Canes after complaining and wearing out his welcome.

Here’s how the receiver snaps were allocated on a night that Toney and Barkate got the fourth quarter off: Toney 51, Barkate 45, Upshaw 27, Moore 22, South Carolina transfer Vandrevius Jacobs 15, freshman Somourian Wingo 15, freshman Vance Spafford 8 and freshman Milan Parris 3.

▪ The surprise of the night was five-star freshman Jackson Cantwell coming off the bench, as UM opted for older players SJ Alofaituli and Max Buchanan as starters at guard.

Cantwell was inserted on UM’s third series, and the Canes were most effective run-blocking in the first half when Cantwell and Buchanan played together.

Buchanan ended up playing 50 of UM’s 68 snaps. Alofaituli played 41, Cantwell 34 and Ben Congdon 12. Georgia transfer Jamal Meriweather played 12 snaps late.

Alofaituli started for reasons we explained in this piece a week ago. He was overpowered on one play early in the game, and PFF rated him 20th of 28 players who suited up on offense for the Canes on Friday.

Surprisingly, PFF rated Cantwell 26th, Meriweather 27th and Congdon 28th (and last). Buchanan had a good night, and PFF rated him 10th. Alofaituli was rated 20th of 28.

Buchanan was UM’s top run blocking lineman on Friday, per PFF.

▪ At tackle, UM opted for the experience of Samson Okunlola and Matthew McCoy, as expected, and both had solid nights. PFF rated McCoy 14th and Okunlola 16th among the 28 players who suited up on offense. McCoy was rated UM’s best pass blocker Friday.

Junior college transfer Jacob Hawks – all 6-9 and 330 pounds of him – played 13 snaps, some on jumbo six-offensive line packages, and PFF graded him as UM’s ninth-best player on offense on Friday.

▪ Ryan Rodriguez had a very good night at center; PFF rated him behind only Mensah and Toney among offensive players who logged at least 20 snaps. (Wingo, who had 15 snaps, was third.) Every starting UM lineman allowed exactly one quarterback pressure except Rodriguez and Okunlola.

Backup center Rhys Woodrow, who struggled with snaps in the spring game, played 13 snaps late.

▪ At tight end, Elija Lofton played 41 snaps, freshman Israel Briggs 13, freshman Gavin Mueller 12 and Owen Ruskavich 6. PFF rated Lofton 17th of the 28 players who suited up for UM.

Mueller caught a four yard pass in his college debut, and PFF graded his overall work 12th among 28.

This was a good sign: Lofton and Mueller were UM’s best run blockers on Friday, per PFF.

UM didn’t use Jackson Carver, back from after missing a year with a knee injury, or Jack Nickel.

▪ At running back, UM gave 32 snaps to Mark Fletcher Jr., 29 to Marty Brown, 11 to Girard Pringle Jr. and 7 to Javian Mallory.

Fletcher averaged just 3.1 yards on 13 carries, but that was more the byproduct of blocking breakdowns.

Brown averaged 4.6 yards on eight carries, and Dawson has a good feel for when to use him. Exhausted defenses, who have been on the field awhile, don’t want to see the bruising Brown come into the game; they seldom have an answer.

UM people have been raving about Mallory throughout training camp, and he showed his excellent burst on a 19-yard run, closing the night with three carries for 31 yards.

Pringle had a quiet night (six carries, nine yards). Mallory could certainly surpass him, if he hasn’t already.

Jordan Lyle remains away from the team as he works through his legal issues.