Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney is first in the ESPN "Re-ranking college football's top freshmen after two months of the season." Toney has been a breakout player for Miami after reclassifying from the 2026 class to 2025.
Toney has become the most reliable target for quarterback Carson Beck, with a team-leading 38 receptions and 510 receiving yards and is second behind C.J. Daniels with three touchdowns. Toney moved up in the ESPN freshmen rankings after being fourth earlier this month.
Among freshmen WRs nationally, Toney is first in receptions, catches per game and receiving yards per game. Toney broke out in his collegiate debut with six receptions for 82 yards and a TD in the 27-24 Miami win over Notre Dame. Toney has been an all-around player who has also been praised for his blocking.
Dakorien Moore of Oregon, with 25 receptions for 398 yards and three TDs, is the only other WR on the ESPN top 10 freshmen. Moore has yet to top 100 receiving yards in 2025, with a high of seven receptions for 89 yards in a double overtime win at Penn State.
"He was undervalued as a three-star recruit. Even in an upset loss to Louisville, he was a bright spot with nine catches for 135 yards, a 12-yard reverse for a TD and a 2-point conversion pass. Toney already has a knack for showing up against the Hurricanes' toughest opponents. He averaged 85 yards per game against Miami's three AP Top 25 opponents, and he tallied a then career-high 107 yards and two touchdowns in the Canes' 28-22 win over Florida State...Toney looks like Miami's next great playmaker."Billy Tucker, ESPN
The performances by Toney against Florida State and Louisville were his two most productive this season. Toney has increased his production as Miami enters the second half of the season. Miami plays the four worst pass defenses in the ACC in the next four games, starting Saturday versus Stanford.
At his current pace, Toney will break the Miami freshmen records of 49 receptions and 934 receiving yards set by Ahmmon Richards in 2016. Toney is on pace for the third-most receptions in a season overall in Miami history and the eighth-most receiving yards.
Toney is having one of the greatest freshman seasons by a Miami player at any position. As Miami competes to earn the first College Football Playoff berth in program history, Toney should create more defining moments for the Hurricanes during the second half of the 2025 season.