What does the ‘best version of Malachi Toney’ look like? We’re about to find out
A group of elementary school children stood along the sideline at the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility for a Miami Hurricanes practice last week as Malachi Toney came sprinting in their direction. The Hurricanes’ phenom wide receiver made a phenomenal catch in the end zone in 1-on-1 coverage as the kids cheered in celebration.
“It made me feel great just to see those younger me’s out there just supporting me while I’m out here on the journey getting better each and every day,” Toney said Tuesday with a smile. “It’s just a great feeling when you’ve got a support system like that.”
The Hurricanes tried to keep Toney as much of a secret as they could when his freshman season began last year.
That won’t be the case in 2026.
Everyone in college football knows who Toney is now after a record-setting debut to his college football career that helped the Hurricanes reach the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
But get this: Toney knows there’s more for him to offer to Miami as it looks to go one step further next season and win a national championship for the first time since 2001 — six years before he was born. There are steps he can take to improve his all-around game.
His main goal for his sophomore year?
“Just be the best version of Malachi Toney for the University of Miami,” Toney said. “Just keep going, keep maturing and be a leader to the younger guys.”
But what exactly does “the best version of Malachi Toney” look like?
“I don’t know,” Toney said, flashing that grin again. “You’ll have to see.”
If it builds on what he showcased as a freshman, then Hurricanes fans are in for a treat.
Toney last season set the single-season school records for catches (109) and receiving yards (1,211). His 10 receiving touchdowns were a freshman record and tied for fourth most in a season by a UM player. He had at least five catches in all but two of 16 games and caught 25 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns in four College Football Playoff games.
He was the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Rookie of the Year, first-team All-ACC, the Football Writers Association of America’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, and a second-team All-American by the Associated Press, Sporting News and CBS Sports.
But Toney’s impact extended beyond catching passes. He ran for 113 yards and a touchdown. He threw two touchdown passes. He was a willing and successful blocker to help set up the run game.
“The best blocker on the team,” offensive line coach Alex Mirabal said as he swapped places with Toney during postpractice interviews.
Anything the Hurricanes need, Toney wants to provide. He wants to be a driving force to make his hometown team successful. He understands the value of every game, every drive, every play, every practice rep.
“Consistency is key,” Toney said.
So, too, is maximizing talent. Toney has what should be a phenomenal supporting cast around him.
Just look at the wide receiver room around him. Miami added three veterans in the transfer portal in Duke’s Cooper Barkate, South Carolina’s Vandrevius Jacobs and West Virginia’s Cam Vaughn. Josh Moore and Daylyn Upshaw return as sophomores who, like Toney, are trying to take the next step. And then there are the four freshman wide receivers — Somourian Wingo, Milan Parris, Vance Spafford and Tyran Evans — looking to break through on the depth chart as well.
Miami returns its entire running back room as well, led by senior Mark Fletcher Jr.
There’s the quarterback in Darian Mensah, Miami’s third consecutive veteran signal caller acquired via the transfer portal. Toney found instant chemistry last year with Carson Beck and already has a good bond with Mensah despite the two just beginning to work together. They took a trip to California to work out in the offseason. Mensah went to Toney’s house for the Super Bowl.
“That’s my dog,” Toney said. “I call him ‘D Dog.’ We just grew closer ever since he got here day one, since he got down. We just gonna keep building up on that relationship.”
And Toney will keep building his game. He’s not going to deviate from what worked. He knows one good season does not define who he will be.
“I’ll take it the same way like I took it last year,” Toney said, “as if nobody knew me.”
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