Hurricanes’ 17-year-old wideout is rewriting expectations with every catch
When most 17-year-olds are focused on anything else, Malachi Toney is torching college defenses. Miami’s freshman receiver, who should still be in high school, has already carved out a place in Hurricanes history, and he’s only played three games.
Toney first grabbed national attention in Week 1 when Miami upset then-No. 5 Notre Dame. He hauled in six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, marking the most receiving yards by a Miami freshman against a top-10 team in 22 years. That performance wasn’t a fluke.
Against Bethune-Cookman, Toney delivered another six catches for 80 yards and a score, showing consistency in his route running and poise. Then came South Florida, where he posted six more grabs for 66 yards. Through three games, Toney leads Miami in receptions (18) and yards (228), making him quarterback Carson Beck’s go-to option.
Reclassified from Miami’s 2026 recruiting class, Toney skipped his senior season at American Heritage in Plantation, Florida, a program where he won a Class 4A state championship while racking up over 1,000 receiving yards in 2023.
“He’s special. We were trying to keep him a secret,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said earlier this month. That secret is out.
Now, with a primetime clash against Florida looming, Toney has a chance to cement himself as more than a rising star, but the heartbeat of Miami’s offense.
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS:
- Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
- Nick Saban on Browns' Derrick Henry diss: Try 'tackling his ass every day'
- LSU lands top 2027 blue-chip QB Peyton Houston
- The hard truth about Arch Manning's injury situation
- Why Shedeur Sanders told NFL teams not to draft him