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Watchlist season is fully underway, friends!

On Monday morning, Miami Hurricanes QB Darian Mensah, WR Malachi Toney, and RB Mark Fletcher Jr. were named to the Maxwell Award watchlist for 2026.

Here’s more from Miami Athletics:

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, wide receiver Malachi Toney and running back Mark Fletcher Jr. were named to the watch list for the 2026 Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.

Miami and Ohio State led all programs with three selections apiece among the 81 preseason candidates. The Maxwell Award has recognized the most outstanding player in college football annually since 1937.

Entering his first season as the Hurricanes’ signal caller, Mensah delivered a dominant 2025 season where he earned second-team All-ACC honors and was named a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award honoring the nation’s top quarterback. Mensah threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns compared to six interceptions and was also selected as the MVP of the Sun Bowl.

Toney delivered one of the most productive freshman seasons in Miami history in 2025. The Liberty City native earned ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year and FWAA Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. Toney set Miami single-season records with 109 receptions and 1,211 receiving yards while adding 10 touchdown catches. He was named a second-team All-American by The Associated Press and earned first-team All-ACC recognition at wide receiver.

Fletcher rushed for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns during his junior campaign, earning third-team All-ACC honors. He added 140 receiving yards and two touchdown catches while starting 12 of Miami’s 14 games. Fletcher established a College Football Playoff record with 507 rushing yards during the Hurricanes’ postseason run and enters his senior season ranked seventh in program history with 2,313 career rushing yards.

Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 10, followed by the unveiling of three finalists Nov. 24. The winner will be announced Dec. 10 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show. 

The Hurricanes open the 2026 season Sept. 4 at Stanford. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. on ESPN.

A transfer from Duke, Mensah is among the best and most productive quarterbacks in the country. He takes over the reigns of a loaded Miami offense, and looks to eclipse the ACC-leading passing numbers he posted a year ago.

After only one season, Malachi Toney is already a household name, major superstar, and local legend in South Florida. His multi-faceted ability — he was voted preseason all-ACC at three different positions — is paired with a tireless work ethic and incredible athleticism. I can’t wait to see how OC Shannon Dawson deploys Toney all over the field this season.

The elder statesman of this trio and the heartbeat of the Canes program according to many, Fletcher Jr. has developed into a central cog of Miami’s offense. He’s big, runs hard, and is tough to contend with over 4 quarters of play. Fletcher Jr. was always known to us, but burst onto the national scene with a dominant run of performance in last year’s College Football Playoffs. Back for his senior year, he looks to cement his legacy at Miami with a championship.

Congrats to all 3 players, but this is just the beginning. Let’s get to work!

Go Canes

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