Malachi Toney sets Hurricanes record for receiving yards by a freshman
Malachi Toney continues to rewrite the Miami Hurricanes’ record book — and more is very likely still on the way.
With his 5-yard reception in the third quarter of the No. 12 Hurricanes’ 38-7 win road over No. 22 Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday, Toney surpassed Ahmmon Richards’ school record for most receiving yards by a freshman.
“Are you surprised?” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said. “Nobody else is. All year long, his dedication, his natural talent and his game day approach and performances have been absolutely awesome. Malachi’s just getting started.”
That said, Toney admitted he was caught a bit off guard by exactly how productive he has been in his first season of college football.
“I’d be lying if I said yes,” Toney said. “I knew what I was going to do for my team. Like, I always knew that I’d do my job and I always do what my coaches ask me, but God had other plans for me. His plan is always bigger than my dream. Like I could plan for me to be a freshman All-American, but His plan was for me to be other things.”
Toney finished the Pittsburgh game with a career-high 13 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown — plus five rushes for 30 yards and a 9-yard touchdown pass for good measure.
He now has 970 receiving yards on the season. Richards had 934 receiving yards during the 2016 season as a freshman.
“There isn’t a better freshman in the country,” Cristobal said. “There might not be a better and more exciting player in the country right now than Malachi Toney, and it’s fun to be around. He does it all.”
Richards acknowledged Toney breaking his record in a post on his X account.
“EARNED @MALACHITONEY2,” Richards posted. “Congratulations on this achievement! Welcome to legacy, it’s forever!! Can’t wait to watch the rest of your long career. Love!”
Toney also has 84 catches and seven touchdown receptions on the season. That’s one catch shy of Xavier Restrepo’s Hurricanes single-season record of 85 catches in a season, set in the 2023 season.
His seven touchdown receptions are tied with Stacy Coley’s mark from the 2013 season for most by a UM freshman.
The 970 receiving yards, for good measure, are the eight-most in UM history for a single season.
“Mali you different boi,” Restrepo posted on his personal X account during the first half of the game.
But Toney is doing so much more than just catch passes. His all-around talent has been key to Miami’s push for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
He has thrown a pair of touchdown passes of his own (and completed four passes overall), including one to quarterback Carson Beck on his first ever collegiate pass attempt and a 9-yard touchdown throw to Elija Lofton in the first half Saturday. He also has a rushing touchdown and is UM’s primary punt returner.
“He’s a weapon for us,” Beck said. “It’s really hard to line up and decide what we’re gonna do. I mean, he literally dropped back and threw a go ball today. That’s pretty crazy to do as a wide receiver. He’s super impressive, and he’s been awesome for us.”
This story was originally published November 29, 2025 at 2:27 PM.
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