After a historic freshman campaign, Liberty City’s own rising star looks to defy the odds and join the Miami Hurricanes legends as the program’s third Heisman Trophy winner.
MIAMI, Fla. – Miami Hurricanes’ Malachi Toney made himself known to the whole college football world right out of the gate. As a 17-year-old reclassified freshman, the local Liberty City native showed resilience and fearlessness. There were no lights bright enough to shake Toney’s confidence.
After creating a national spark on ESPN’s College GameDay against the Florida Gators at Hard Rock Stadium, the freshman would truly break out the following week against the Florida State Seminoles at Tallahassee. He caught seven passes for 107 yards, scoring two touchdowns – both at least 40 yards apiece. The rest was history as the team reached the National Championship game.
A new season approaches and Toney is among college football’s most prolific players. When talking about “The U,” he’s one of the first to come to mind, especially for the youth. After winning rookie accolades, the incoming sophomore is expected to reach for bigger goals – the Heisman Trophy.
The award annually honors college football’s top player. Only two players from the University of Miami were recipients: quarterbacks Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992). Toney could be looking to be third on the exclusive list.
Coming off a historic freshman season by leading the nation with 109 catches, the rising star was mentioned in CBS Sports’ Heisman Trophy darkhorse candidates. Although there’s already been some buzz, it hasn’t been as consistent.
According to BetMGM, the top seven odd-favorites are quarterbacks, including Hurricanes’ Darian Mensah. The top wide receiver is Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith (No. 8 on the list). Meanwhile, Toney is among the bottom with +3500 odds to win.
It’s certainly very low, especially with the season he just had. Toney’s ability to impact winning goes beyond the passing game. He can run the ball – logged 113 rushing yards on 23 attempts, including a touchdown – and play as a quarterback. Toney completed four of six passes, 66.7 percent, throwing for 82 yards and two touchdowns – all of which came in the final four games of the regular season.
Colorado’s Travis Hunter was the last wide receiver (plus cornerback) to win the Heisman Trophy in 2024. However, quarterback Cam Ward became the Hurricanes’ first finalist for the award since 2002 in 2025. Given the program’s latest attraction, Toney has the national attention and platform to carve out a strong case.
However, the Hurricanes’ success will likely impact the results. It’s difficult to envision Toney leading the nation in catches again, given the revamped wide receiver core around him, but the impact is only supposed to grow.
Join the Community! Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join, simply by clicking the yellow button at the top of the homepage. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP and stay even more connected!
Anthony Aguirre is the Miami Hurricanes beat writer for Roundtable Sports. Contact info: [email protected] | 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
