Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney spoke to the media after the Hurricanes finished up another day of spring practice on Tuesday.
Here is everything Malachi Toney said yesterday afternoon:
Q: Everyone probably knew who you were going into last year. Now they all certainly do. What has kind of attention done? What has it been to you, if anything? How have you tried to keep things normal, keep your circle tight, all those things, knowing that all eyes are kind of on you now?
I take it the same way, like I took it last year, as if nobody knew me. I'm just taking it day by day and keep trying to get better each and every day.
Q: Is it hard at all?
I wouldn't say it's hard because I have a great relationship with God, and he helped me stay humble and level-headed through it all. So I'll say it's easy.
Q: When you reflect on last year and everything you were able to accomplish, the team was able to accomplish, what stands out the most?
Just how we played as a team. When adversity hit, we just came together, grew closer.
Q: On what it meant to have youth football players watching him earlier in spring practice:
It made me feel great, just to see those younger me’s out just there supporting me while I’m here on the journey, getting better each and every day. It’s just a great feeling when you’ve got a support system like that [from] your hometown.
Q: On transfer quarterback Darian Mensah:
That’s my dog. I call him D-Dog. That’s my guy, man. We just grew closer ever since he got here, since day one, since he got down here and we’re just going to keep building our bond and that relationship on and off the field.
Q: On how he’d like to improve going into his sophomore season:
Just be the best version of Malachi Toney for the University of Miami. Just keep growing, keep maturing, and be a leader to the younger guys.
Q: Do any of the new freshmen remind you of yourself in any way of the mentality you had last year in this company?
Yeah, I'll say Somourian Wingo. That guy's a dog. I probably shouldn't even be telling y'all this, but I just couldn't hold it. Just the way his mindset, like, undeniable. He poised. That's what I like about him.
Q: How talented is this receiving room as a whole? I mean, the three transfer team and the freshmen, your class, that's another year of experience. How good can you guys be?
Very good.
Q: On Vance Stafford
He's a great receiver, move light on his feet, great twitch, twist up, catch everything that comes his way. He's a great person.
Q: I covered you and your brother since y'all were kids. How does it feel to have your brother out here in the battlefield?
It's amazing. Everybody coming out to the practice, mama, grandma get to see me and my brother on the same field. I haven't got a chance to go against him yet, but yeah, it's just great.
Q: You mentioned, getting to know Darian over the course of the last couple of months. What have you guys been doing? Is it practice? Is it, before practice, after practice? Is it just, hanging out with each other? Like, how do you guys build that relationship?
We built that relationship on and off the field, went to Cali, worked out, did a couple of things, had a Super Bowl, He came by my house, ate, had a lot of fun, watched the game, just was joking. It's just like, little things like that matter. Got time for two more.
Q: On what it means to him to be playing for his hometown program:
It makes me feel great that I get to do it in my city. I [don’t have to go anywhere] else. I [don’t have to go] three hours away, five hours away. I get to do it 20 minutes from the park I used to play at when I was 8-years old.
Here is everything Malachi Toney said yesterday afternoon:
Q: Everyone probably knew who you were going into last year. Now they all certainly do. What has kind of attention done? What has it been to you, if anything? How have you tried to keep things normal, keep your circle tight, all those things, knowing that all eyes are kind of on you now?
I take it the same way, like I took it last year, as if nobody knew me. I'm just taking it day by day and keep trying to get better each and every day.
Q: Is it hard at all?
I wouldn't say it's hard because I have a great relationship with God, and he helped me stay humble and level-headed through it all. So I'll say it's easy.
Q: When you reflect on last year and everything you were able to accomplish, the team was able to accomplish, what stands out the most?
Just how we played as a team. When adversity hit, we just came together, grew closer.
Q: On what it meant to have youth football players watching him earlier in spring practice:
It made me feel great, just to see those younger me’s out just there supporting me while I’m here on the journey, getting better each and every day. It’s just a great feeling when you’ve got a support system like that [from] your hometown.
Q: On transfer quarterback Darian Mensah:
That’s my dog. I call him D-Dog. That’s my guy, man. We just grew closer ever since he got here, since day one, since he got down here and we’re just going to keep building our bond and that relationship on and off the field.
Q: On how he’d like to improve going into his sophomore season:
Just be the best version of Malachi Toney for the University of Miami. Just keep growing, keep maturing, and be a leader to the younger guys.
Q: Do any of the new freshmen remind you of yourself in any way of the mentality you had last year in this company?
Yeah, I'll say Somourian Wingo. That guy's a dog. I probably shouldn't even be telling y'all this, but I just couldn't hold it. Just the way his mindset, like, undeniable. He poised. That's what I like about him.
Q: How talented is this receiving room as a whole? I mean, the three transfer team and the freshmen, your class, that's another year of experience. How good can you guys be?
Very good.
Q: On Vance Stafford
He's a great receiver, move light on his feet, great twitch, twist up, catch everything that comes his way. He's a great person.
Q: I covered you and your brother since y'all were kids. How does it feel to have your brother out here in the battlefield?
It's amazing. Everybody coming out to the practice, mama, grandma get to see me and my brother on the same field. I haven't got a chance to go against him yet, but yeah, it's just great.
Q: You mentioned, getting to know Darian over the course of the last couple of months. What have you guys been doing? Is it practice? Is it, before practice, after practice? Is it just, hanging out with each other? Like, how do you guys build that relationship?
We built that relationship on and off the field, went to Cali, worked out, did a couple of things, had a Super Bowl, He came by my house, ate, had a lot of fun, watched the game, just was joking. It's just like, little things like that matter. Got time for two more.
Q: On what it means to him to be playing for his hometown program:
It makes me feel great that I get to do it in my city. I [don’t have to go anywhere] else. I [don’t have to go] three hours away, five hours away. I get to do it 20 minutes from the park I used to play at when I was 8-years old.
