Football

Miami’s Toney, Cal’s Ferrelli Named ACC Rookies of the Year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year, while California linebacker Luke Ferrelli was tabbed the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, it was announced on Wednesday, December 3.
 
The awards were selected by an 82-member voting panel featuring 65 media voters and the conference’s 17 head coaches.

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Malachi Toney, Fr. WR, Miami (Liberty City, Florida)
ACC Rookie of the Year • ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year
  • First-Team All-ACC wide receiver; Second-Team All-ACC all-purpose
  • Leads all freshmen (redshirt and true freshmen) in FBS in receptions (84), receiving yards (970) and receiving yards per game (80.8).
  • Tied for first nationally among all FBS freshmen and first in the ACC in receiving touchdowns (7).
  • Third in the ACC and sixth nationally in receptions per game (7.0).
  • Fourth in the ACC and 16th nationally in receiving yards (970).
  • Fifth in the ACC and 21st nationally in receiving yards per game (80.8).
  • Ranks third in the ACC and 43rd nationally in all-purpose yards per game (103.83).
  • Returned 13 punts for 187 yards on special teams.
  • Recorded four 100-yard receiving games on the year.
  • Also has one rushing touchdown and thrown two touchdown passes on the season.

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Luke Ferrelli, R-Fr., California (San Diego, California)
ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year
  • All-ACC Honorable Mention
  • Started all 12 games for the Cal defense.
  • Leads all ACC freshmen and redshirt freshmen team in tackles (87) and solo tackles (36) on the season.
  • Second among all ACC freshmen in tackles-for-loss (5.0).
  • Also recorded 1.0 sack (-11 yards) and one interception, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry from his linebacker position.
  • Tied for eighth overall in the ACC in total tackles and tied for ninth in tackles per game (7.3).
  • Recorded three double-digit tackle games, including a career-high-tying 11 in back-to-back contests versus Texas Southern and Minnesota, as well as 10 at Stanford.

A complete breakdown of the 2025 ACC Football Rookie of the Year voting:
 
Rookie of the Year
Malachi Toney, Miami – 44
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, California – 21
Mason Heintschel, Pitt – 7
Nate Sheppard, Duke – 4
Frank Cusano, Wake Forest – 2
Luke Ferrelli, California - 1
Mandrell Desir, Florida State – 1
Shane Lee Jr., Pitt – 1
 
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Malachi Toney, Miami – 46
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, California – 21
Mason Heintschel, Pitt – 7
Nate Sheppard, Duke – 5
Kyle Altuner, Virginia Tech – 1
Chris Barnes, Wake Forest – 1
 
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Luke Ferrelli, California – 22
Mandrell Desir, Florida – 20
Bryce Fitzgerald, Miami – 15
Shawn Lee Jr., Pitt – 10
Demetres Samuel Jr., Syracuse – 10
Noah Chambers, Virginia Tech – 2
Frank Cusano, Wake Forest – 2