Miami Hurricanes’ not-so-secret-anymore weapon Malachi Toney impresses in debut
Malachi Toney should still be in high school right now. The wide receiver, still just 17 years old, could be wrapping up a stellar prep career at Plantation American Heritage chasing a second consecutive FHSAA state title.
But he’s chasing bigger goals, bigger dreams, bigger titles.
Toney reclassified to enroll at the University of Miami a year early. The internal buzz around the youngster was palpable throughout spring practices and fall camp leading up to the season. The Hurricanes had an inkling that something big was going to come from him early.
“He’s special,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said. “We were trying to keep him a secret.”
Well, the secret’s out: Malachi Toney is a threat on the field and is going to be a valuable weapon for the Hurricanes as they chase a berth in the College Football Playoff and a national championship.
It was on display in his collegiate debut on Sunday as Toney led the Hurricanes with six catches for 82 yards and a 28-yard touchdown as Miami upset Notre Dame 27-24.
His 82 receiving yards are the most by a UM freshman against a top-10 team since Ryan Moore had 101 yards in then-No. 2 Miami’s 31-7 loss to then-No. 10 Virginia Tech on Nov. 1, 2003.
“It showed the world what we’ve been seeing every week, every day in practice,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “He’s been the same guy every day. He’s steady, makes plays every day. He doesn’t get too up or too down. Very consistent personality, high effort.”
Toney’s talent is undeniable. He was a star at American Heritage, catching 141 passes for 2,412 yards and 28 touchdowns over three years. He even served as the team’s emergency quarterback during their playoff run to a state title last season after starter Dia Bell sustained a season-ending lower leg injury two rounds into the postseason.
But it’s the way that he hones his craft that has impressed his coaches and teammates. Dawson praised his advanced ability to read coverages for a true freshman. Cristobal said he’s approaching the game like a “fifth or sixth year NFL vet.”
“It’s the long days and the short nights,” Toney said. “Getting in there, watching film, getting in the tub, stretching. What you put in is what you’re going to get out of it. My preparation has had a big impact on it.”
It showed Sunday.
Toney’s biggest production came on the Hurricanes’ first touchdown drive. It started by catching consecutive passes from quarterback Carson Beck — his first two career collegiate receptions — midway through the drive to put Miami in striking distance.
First was a catch-and-run on a short third-and-7 pass near midfield, using his shiftiness to create space with Notre Dame cornerback Karson Hobbs prior to the catch. He gained 13 yards on the play to move the chains.
On the next play, he caught a pass to the left in open space for 11 yards to put Miami at the Notre Dame 28-yard line at the end of the first quarter.
Three plays later, after a Jordan Lyle rush for no gain and an incomplete pass, Toney capped the drive with a 28-yard touchdown reception on a crossing route, once again beating Hobbs to give Miami an early 7-0 lead.
“Man, that kid is special,” Beck said postgame. “Obviously, he’s very talented and gifted, but the work that he puts in and his willingness to learn and his maturity for the age that he is is off the charts. I remember the first day that I got in there with him, and you could just tell by the way he carries himself that he’s a different type of player. Tonight, he was able to show that. But he’s in the facility day in, day out, from 5 a.m. to whenever everyone’s gone. He’s the first one in and last one out and he’s constantly meeting, constantly trying to get better, constantly picking my brain apart. He’s made me better as a quarterback myself. Man, I’m really happy to have him on our team.”
Toney said he felt some butterflies pregame when he was announced as a starter but said he was “more confident than anything else” once the game actually began. Opponents can see that now and they are on notice for the potential next big thing to come out of UM.
Does Toney think teams will be game-planning more specifically for him now after his debut performance?
“That’s on them,” Toney said. “I’ve just got to do my job and be the best Malachi Toney for the University of Miami.”
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