After a season that had the Miami Hurricanes competing in the National Championship game, fans are going to wonder what is next. Head coach Mario Cristobal is going to have the task of following up the 2025 season with even bigger things, and the answer might be right in front of him.
In his freshman season, wide receiver Malachi Toney broke out onto the college football scene in a big way. Toney, who was only a three-star prospect out of high school, many times was the savior for the Hurricanes in 2025 and a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Malachi Toney's ceiling is higher than ever at Miami after the 2025 season
ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler joined Rich Eisen on his radio show, "The Rich Eisen Show," and spoke about the impact Toney has on Miami. When watching Toney in the National Championship, Fowler even spoke about how Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said they had four plans in place to try to contain the speedy receiver.
Fowler believes Toney's freshman season was just the start for the receiver's college career.
"You keep feeding him the ball, and he just keeps finding a way to create space and make things happen," Fowler said. "I think he is the most exciting player in the sport, and I love the fact that we're going to see him for two more years."
Chris Fowler believes Malachi Toney is the most exciting player in the sport 🏈
— BLEED ORANGE AND GREEN (@Brabra_Savage24) April 30, 2026
The fact that they had 4 game plans
in place to try and stop a 17 year old True freshman is wild! #BabyJesus #GABOS pic.twitter.com/kg7ywXoBZ7
As a freshman, a reminder at the age of 17, as Toney just recently turned 18, Toney has 109 receptions for 1,211 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 11.1 yards per catch. He also added 23 carries for 113 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown to his stat sheet in 2025.
Even though Indiana had so many plans to keep Toney in check in the National Championship with star cornerback D'Angelo Ponds on him, the Hurricanes receiver went off for 122 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Toney has such a high ceiling going into the 2026 season for Miami, and clearly, Fowler is excited to see what he does in his second season with the Hurricanes.
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