Honors keep coming Malachi Toney’s way, and every one of them serves as a reminder that Miami landed a star wideout for the long haul. Over the last couple weeks, Toney stacked league, national and All-American recognition after a record-setting debut season in Coral Gables.
League voters handed Toney ACC Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, a sweep no Cane has managed since Tyler Van Dyke in 2021. Toney led all FBS freshmen with 84 receptions for 970 yards and seven receiving touchdowns, numbers that also delivered a new Miami single-season freshman receiving record.
On3 followed the conference’s lead, selecting him as a True Freshman All-American and crowning him Offensive True Freshman of the Year, a combo that signals “best of the best” among first-year players.
Pro Football Focus put Toney on its All-American team at the FLEX spot, a nod that reflects his work as a receiver, runner and occasional passer in Shannon Dawson’s scheme. That honor came alongside fellow star Rueben Bain Jr., underscoring how Miami’s young core already stands among the sport’s elite.
Toney picked up AP All-ACC honors, further validating his status as one of the league’s most dangerous playmakers regardless of class. He’s also a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year finalist.
All of the honors rest on more than raw numbers. Miami leaned on Toney in big moments from Week 1 against Notre Dame through the stretch run that helped deliver a College Football Playoff berth for the Canes. Defenses knew No. 10 ran the route that could break the game, and he still created separation, broke tackles and flipped field position.
For now, Miami fans watch a 18-year-old treat the ACC like a playground. The scary part for the rest of the league? This is just the beginning, and college football should treat that statement less like hype and more like a warning shot for 2026 and beyond.
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