After a historic freshman campaign, Malachi Toney joins the elite ranks of EA Sports cover athletes as the versatile playmaker gears up for a Heisman-caliber sophomore season.
Miami, FL. – Surely, the Miami Hurricanes knew ahead of time, but it didn’t take long for the college football world to learn about Malachi Toney. The local Liberty City native went from a three-star recruit to one of the most prolific players in modern-day. As a 17-year-old reclassified freshman, Toney delivered an immediate impact in a variety of ways. Whether it was catching, rushing, returning, or even passing, he did what the team asked of him with tremendous effort.
Last season, Toney caught a nation-high 109 passes for 1,211 yards, scoring 13 total touchdowns in 16 games, including 15 starts. He was targeted 131 times, the most among the Hurricanes’ receivers. Toney earned ACC Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the Year, along with All-ACC First Team honors. However, as a sophomore, the local is expected to push for new heights and bigger accolades, including the Heisman Trophy.
Before starting the campaign, Toney’s rise to fame continues as one of the seven figures featured on the new EA Sports College Football 27’s Deluxe Edition Cover. The others were Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti, Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore, Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Leonard Moore, USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maivia, Ole Miss Rebels running back Kewan Lacy, and Texas Longhorns linebacker Colin Simmons.
Cignetti, who led the Midwestern program to its first National Championship, is in the middle of the cover. Also, it features a few mascots in the background: Big Red from Western Kentucky University, Mike the Tiger from LSU, and Sparky the Sun Devil from Arizona State.
After being the runner-ups in the National Championship game, the Hurricanes revamped the wide receiver room with a few new acquisitions: South Carolina transfer Vandrevius Jacobs, West Virginia transfer Cam Vaughn, and All-ACC Duke transfer Cooper Barkate, who followed Blue Devils teammate and quarterback Darian Mensah to Coral Gables. It’s unlikely that Toney leads the nation in receiving in back-to-back seasons, but that’s not the concern for the local star.
Given the departures of CJ Daniels and Keelan Marion to the 2026 NFL Draft, the new No. 1 (on the jersey) will be relied upon as one of the Hurricanes’ most reliable leaders.
Toney is capable of playing anywhere on the field, which will likely draw the attention of defenses, unlocking opportunities for others to make plays.
The Hurricanes are looking to return to the College Football Playoffs, with hopes of another National Championship push. Before that can happen, fall camp is on the horizon.
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Anthony Aguirre is the Miami Hurricanes beat writer for Roundtable Sports. Contact info: [email protected] | 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
