As Malachi Toney prepares for his first taste of the College Football Playoffs, his future looks bright, with a potential candidacy for a high award.
The Miami Hurricanes finished the regular season with a 10-2 record, the first time the program recorded back-to-back double-digit winning seasons since 2003, when the team was in the Big East. However, part of their success is credited to freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney, who took the college football scene by storm.
After playing in all games, the 18-year-old caught 84 passes for 970 yards, which ranked first among all freshmen, and seven touchdowns, tied for first among all freshmen. He also rushed 17 times for 89 yards, including a rushing touchdown. If that wasn't impressive enough, the four-star prospect even showed off his quarterback skills from high school, completing four of six passes and recording two touchdowns.
Toney was spectacular in his collegiate debut, breaking the Hurricanes' freshman receiving yards record in a single season, previously held by wide receiver Ahmmon Richards since 2016.
The Liberty City native was acknowledged as the 2025 ACC Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the Year. He received a total of 90 votes for both awards.
As Toney continues to grow as a player, so will his production on the field, which makes him an outstanding weapon for the Hurricanes. If he takes another leap next season, as expected, there's a legitimate path to the Heisman Trophy.
In its 80-plus years of existence, only four wide receivers have won the milestone award: first was Nebraska's Jonny Rodgers in 1972, Notre Dame's Tim Brown in 1987, Michigan's Desmond Howard in 1991, and finally Alabama's DeVonta Smith in 2020.
Only two Hurricanes players have been the recipients of the Heisman trophy: Vinny Testaverde in 1986 and Gino Torretta in 1992, both were quarterbacks and were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Toney has proven to be a special and very talented player who not only impacts winning but takes the field with style. His ability not only the run routes spectacularly, but also to get physical with opposing players, crash and break tackles, speaks a great level of toughness.
In the Hurricanes' matchup against the Stanford Cardinal, the 18-year-old recorded a combination of 73 yards from a couple of punt returns. Those plays electrified the offense when it was needed most.
As long as Toney stays a Hurricane, he will be a household name for the ages.
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