Hurricanes move on from safety Conrad Hussey. And more Malachi Toney feats
Safety Conrad Hussey, who hoped to revive his career after stops at Florida State and Oregon State, is no longer on the Canes’ football roster.
It was UM’s decision to move on from Hussey, a source said. The reason isn’t known.
Hussey participated in spring practice and the spring game, but — from all indications — did not crack the top four at safety during spring practice.
Zechariah Poyser and Bryce Fitzgerald are the expected starters, and impressive freshman J.J. Dunigan and third-year player Dylan Day are positioned to be the primary backups. Isaiah Taylor, son of UM defensive line coach Jason Taylor, flashed this spring and also is pushing for playing time after playing at Arizona earlier in his career.
Boston College transfer Omar Thornton also is an accomplished safety, but UM used him primarily at nickel cornerback this spring, a role handled capably last season by Keionte Scott, who’s now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
There is no longer a spring portal window, so Hussey isn’t in position to join another FBS team for this season.
He opted for FSU over UM when he graduated from Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas as the nation’s No. 16 safety, but he picked UM over Tennessee in the portal this time around.
Last August, Florida State dismissed Hussey following what CBS characterized as a “physical altercation with a coach.” He was a serviceable player for two years at FSU; he was named the Seminoles’ best freshman defender in 2023 and played 403 defensive snaps in 19 games.
Hussey joined Oregon State weeks later and mysteriously was used on just 51 defensive snaps (at safety and nickel) and appeared in only four games — Oregon, Houston, Appalachian State and Wake Forest. He made one start, against Houston, and did not play in another game following former head coach Trent Bray’s firing on Oct. 12, after an 0-7 start.
This and that
Pro Football Focus ranked UM’s Malachi Toney as the No. 1 yards-after-catch threat in the country.
Of his 1,211 receiving yards last season, an ACC-best 841 came after the catch. His 33 missed tackles on receptions also led the nation, and he forced five more on rushing attempts.
He gained 446 receiving yards on screen passes alone, the second most by any receiver since PFF began charting college football in 2014, trailing only Malachi Corley’s 2022 season for Western Kentucky.
What’s more, Toney’s 285 yards after contact led all returning Power 4 receivers.
▪ 247 Sports moved UM’s 2027 recruiting class from third to second, behind only Texas A&M. The Canes jumped Oklahoma. UM might jump the Aggies, too, if the Canes beat out Texas A&M and Notre Dame for Tampa Jesuit’s Kaden Henderson, rated the No. 3 linebacker in the country and the 58th overall prospect.
247 gave five-star ratings to 32 players, and UM has commitments from four of those 32: Long Beach (California) Poly cornerback Donte Wright (No. 7 overall prospect, No. 2 cornerback), Lombard (Illinois) Montini Catholic quarterback Israel Abrams (No. 9 overall, No. 2 quarterback), Miami Carol City wide receiver Nick Lennear (No. 18 overall, No. 3 wide receiver), and Columbia (South Carolina) Irmo edge player Jaiden Bryant (No. 20 overall, No. 3 edge).
This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 10:48 AM.
