Seven Hurricanes Earn 10 Spots on All-ACC Preseason Team
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Headlined by quarterback Darian Mensah’s selection as ACC Preseason Player of the Year, seven Miami Hurricanes combined to earn 10 spots on the 2026 All-ACC Preseason Football Team, released Wednesday.
Mensah, running back Mark Fletcher Jr., wide receiver Malachi Toney and offensive lineman Samson Okunlola represented Miami on offense, while defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr., linebacker Mohamed Toure and safety Bryce Fitzgerald were selected on the defensive side.
Toney received recognition at three positions, earning spots as a wide receiver, all-purpose player and specialist after a memorable 2025 where the Miami native delivered one of the best seasons in Hurricanes history.
Mensah received 97 of 188 votes as ACC Player of the Year, finishing 72 votes ahead of SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, who placed second. An All-ACC second-team selection a season ago, Mensah threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns with only six interceptions in his lone year at Duke.
Fletcher secured one of the conference’s two preseason running back spots with 127 votes, while Toney led all Miami players with 164 votes at wide receiver. The reigning ACC Rookie of the Year added 94 votes at all-purpose and 104 as a specialist. Okunlola rounded out the Hurricanes’ offensive selections with 53 votes at guard.
Moten received 126 votes at defensive tackle, the second-highest total among ACC defensive players. Toure collected 64 votes at linebacker, while Fitzgerald earned 86 votes at safety.
Miami opens its 2026 season Sept. 4 at Stanford. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. on ESPN.
Miami Hurricanes Preseason Awards and Watch List Tracker
- QB Darian Mensah
- ACC Preseason Player of the Year
- ACC Preseason All-ACC team (QB)
- RB Mark Fletcher Jr.
- ACC Preseason All-ACC team (RB)
- Phil Steele Preseason All-America
- WR Malachi Toney
- Athlon Sports Preseason All-America (First team AP, Third team (PR)
- Phil Steele Preseason All-America
- ACC Preseason All-ACC team (WR, AP & SP)
- WR Cooper Barkate
- Athlon Sports Preseason All-America (Fourth team, WR)
- OL Samson Okunola
- ACC Preseason All-ACC team (OG)
- DL Ahmad Moten Sr.
- Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
- Athlon Sports Preseason All-America (Fourth team, DL)
- Phil Steele Preseason All-America
- ACC Preseason All-ACC team (DL)
- LB Mohamed Toure
- ACC Preseason All-ACC team (LB)
- DB Bryce Fitzgerald
- ACC Preseason All-ACC team (S)
