Updated

Updated · Pro Football Focus · Sep 6

PFF Names Miami's Mensah, Toney to Week 1 Team After 400-Yard, 233-Yard Outbursts

Updated

Updated · Pro Football Focus · Sep 6

PFF Names Miami's Mensah, Toney to Week 1 Team After 400-Yard, 233-Yard Outbursts

Q: How did an under-the-radar linebacker manage to outshine the nation's top defenders in PFF's Week 1 grading?

He did it by turning very few chances into unusually high-impact plays. Old Dominion linebacker Jackson Forrest earned PFF’s top defensive grade of Week 1, a 94.1, because he was relentlessly productive when given pass-rush opportunities against Norfolk State. The key number was efficiency: Forrest rushed the passer only seven times, yet produced three sacks, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble. That is an exceptional disruption rate, and it stood out even more because PFF grades reward the quality and impact of each snap, not just raw volume. In a limited workload, he consistently created negative plays that changed drives. His performance also came in a game where Old Dominion’s defense controlled the matchup. The Monarchs held Norfolk State to 220 total yards in a 31-10 win, and Forrest’s splash plays fit directly into that broader defensive dominance. One of the game’s pivotal moments was his fumble recovery after a strip-sack, helping Old Dominion pull away. So while bigger-name defenders around the country may have posted strong stat lines, Forrest outgraded them because his tape showed elite per-snap production: pressure, sacks and turnover creation packed into a small number of rushes. That combination is exactly the kind of performance PFF’s grading system tends to elevate.

2 articles · Updated · Pro Football Focus · Sep 6

Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney led PFF’s Week 1 national team after Miami’s win over Stanford, with Mensah throwing for 400 yards and five touchdowns and Toney posting 233 yards and three scores.
Jackson Forrest took defensive player of the week honors for Old Dominion after earning a 94.1 grade against Norfolk State, producing three sacks, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble on seven pass-rush snaps.
Kansas State’s offensive line was PFF’s top Week 1 unit, allowing one pressure against Nicholls State while paving the way for 312 rushing yards.
The national and conference teams also featured marquee names including Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith and LSU edge defender Jordan Ross, underscoring the breadth of standout Week 1 performances.

Sources

Pro Football Focus12h ago

PFF Names Miami's Mensah, Toney, Old Dominion's Forrest to College Football Week 1 Team of the Week

ABC4.com12h ago

Mensah throws 5 TD passes, Toney sets record in No. 7 Miami's 45-6 win over Stanford – ABC4 Utah

How did an under-the-radar linebacker manage to outshine the nation's top defenders in PFF's Week 1 grading?

Can Kansas State's offensive line continue to protect a multi-headed rushing attack that completely dismantled its opening opponent?

Will Miami's historic passing duo maintain their efficiency, or was their dominance merely a byproduct of a collapsing defense?

Sources

2 total

Pro Football Focus12h ago

PFF Names Miami's Mensah, Toney, Old Dominion's Forrest to College Football Week 1 Team of the Week

ABC4.com12h ago

Mensah throws 5 TD passes, Toney sets record in No. 7 Miami's 45-6 win over Stanford – ABC4 Utah

PFF Names Miami's Mensah, Toney to Week 1 Team After 400-Yard, 233-Yard Outbursts

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