ESPN
Miami Hurricanes linebacker Mo Toure hits Wake Forest running back Ty Clark in an ACC game on September 18, 2026.
While it may sometimes seem silly that players like Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith or Miami’s Malachi Toney need to spend three years in college before becoming eligible to enter the NFL Draft, there’s a good reason for that.
Sure, it doesn’t apply to them, but there’s often a large gap in physical development between a 19-year-old college freshman and grown men in the NFL.
That gap was put on full display on Friday night when eighth-year Miami Hurricanes linebacker Mo Toure knocked out Wake Forest running back Ty Clark with a vicious hit in the third quarter of their ACC showdown.
Clark did not return to the game after the hit; the ‘Canes went on to win 33-20, moving to 3-0 on the season.
mo toure an 8th year senior bro https://t.co/EnmZrNt2Hu pic.twitter.com/VD7GpnfULm
— wok (@wokdior) September 19, 2026
How Is Mo Toure Still Eligible To Play For Miami?
Toure was a three-star linebacker recruit in the class of 2019, which included players such as Garrett Wilson, George Pickens, Jayden Daniels, and Puka Nacua.
He initially committed to Rutgers, where he redshirted in 2019, played in the 2020 COVID season, played again in 2021, and then missed the 2022 season with a torn ACL. He returned in 2023, but tore his ACL again prior to the 2024 season.
Toure transferred to Miami for the 2025 season, helping lead the Hurricanes to the national championship game, and was then granted an eighth year of eligibility for 2026, something college football fans are not happy about.
Wake Forest losing its starting running back because a guy older than Jaxon Smith-Njigba is still allowed to play college football is pretty disgraceful. https://t.co/EIXd68g71o
— Jamey Vinnick (@jameyvinnick9) September 19, 2026
Not only were fans mad about the age gap between Toure and his opponents, but they also wondered why the player wasn’t flagged for targeting.
Toure appeared to have launched at the head/neck area of Clark. However, the referees did not even opt to review the play.
In both cases, the safety of Wake Forest players can be called into question, and it’s easy to see why fans are uneasy about the direction that college football is headed.