Cristobal, Toney and others to be honored by Miami Touchdown Club on Saturday
The Miami Touchdown Club’s annual Operational Scholarship Dinner and Presentation Ceremony, an event, dedicated to recognizing outstanding achievements in both high school and college football within the Miami area will be held Saturday at the University of Miami Hall of Fame Museum on the UM campus beginning at 6.
Headlining the Collegiate awards to be handed out will be University of Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, the College Coach of the Year recipient after leading the Hurricanes to the brink of a national championship.
Recognized for his outstanding 2025 season, UM wide receiver Malachi Toney is the Club’s selection for College Player of the Year. Toney enjoyed a spectacular freshman season as he led the entire nation in receptions with 111 and was named the ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The “Line Community Leadership Awards” will recognize three other South Florida collegiate coaches for their significant contributions to their respective communities.
Recipients will be FIU head coach Willie Simmons, who, in his first season on the job, led the Panthers to a winning season and bowl game, Florida Memorial University head coach Micheal Jones and St. Thomas University’s Drew Davis, son of former UM head coach Butch Davis.
On the high school level, Miami Carol City wide receiver Nick Lennear is the High School Player of the Year. Only a junior, Lennear helped lead his former team - Miami Northwestern - to the Class 3A state championship game by catching 42 passes for over 600 yards and a county-leading 10 touchdowns.
A special scholarship will be awarded to Miami Monsignor Pace’s Cleveland Gary III supporting his academic and athletic pursuits.
Gary III, whose father played for Jimmy Johnson at UM and was part of the Miami’s 1987 national championship team. was a two-way player for the Spartans as a running back and linebacker. He finished with 475 yards rushing and five touchdowns while leading the way on defense with 65 tackles, six sacks and two interceptions.
Former Florida State standout Rodney Smith has been selected as the Club’s High School Coach of the Year. Smith is the head coach at Somerset Silver Palms Academy in Homestead and helped guide the Stallions to a winning season (7-4) and berth in the Region 4-2A quarterfinal playoffs.
Tickets for this event are $40 per person For more information or to RSVP via email, contact Touchdown Club president Jeff Schneider at 954-294-4868 or email jeffusctrojans@comcast.net.