Malachi Toney led Miami with six receptions, 10 targets and 82 yards in the 27-24 Miami season-opening win over Notre Dame on Sunday night at Hard Rock Stadium. At that pace, Toney will be the best Miami freshman wide receiver since Ahmmon Richards in 2016.
Richards set Miami records with 49 receptions and 934 yards while adding three touchdowns in 2016. At his current pace Toney would finish with 72 receptions for 984 yards and 12 TDs. Richards set the Miami freshman receiving record previously held by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin.
Irvin had 840 receiving yards on 46 receptions with nine touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 1985. At 5'10 and 190 pounds, Toney is a different type of receiver than the bigger and more physical Irvin and Richards. Toney was frequently elusive in the open field versus Notre Dame on Sunday night.
The performance Toney had against Notre Dame was surprising. Toney had been praised throughout training camp and during spring practice, but no one outside of the Miami football program could have predicted the success Toney had versus Notre Dame.
Canes HC Mario Cristobal, on Malachi Toney:
— Christy Chirinos (@ChristyChirinos) September 1, 2025
“He’s special. We’re trying to keep him a secret, but it didn’t take long…he’s always at it, always working…he’s just getting started.”
Richards had two receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown in his collegiate debut as Miami beat Football Bowl Subdivision Bethune-Cookman 70-3 in the 2016 season opener. Beating an FCS team and sixth-ranked Notre Dame is a nearly impossible analogy.
Richards had his breakout game for Miami in 2016 with four receptions for 142 yards in a 45-10 Miami win at Appalachian State. A three-game stretch of consecutive 100-yard games boosted Richards' record-setting freshman season.
Teams will defend Toney differently than Notre Dame. If the performance versus Notre Dame is any indication, Toney will be the top target for Miami quarterback Carson Beck. Miami hosts Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, followed by South Florida on September 13 and Florida on September 20 to conclude non-conference play.