The Miami Hurricanes entered the 2025 season with plenty of question marks on both sides of the ball. One of the biggest was how they would replace the exodus of production among their pass catching group from 2024.

With All-American WR Xavier Restrepo off to the NFL, along with WR Jacolby George and TE Elijah Arroyo, and with WR Isaiah Horton off to Alabama in the transfer portal, the Canes’ top four pass catchers were all gone. Miami had a lot of young and unknown talent stepping up, with Joshisa Trader being a highly touted recruit out of South Florida.

However, it was another local product who’s taken the country by storm in 2025. Malachi Toney turned in one of the best seasons by any freshman in the country at any position to propel the Canes to their first-ever College Football Playoff berth this weekend against the Texas A&M Aggies.

And his breakout season has put him on ESPN’s list of 15 early Heisman Trophy candidates for 2026.

Miami freshman WR Malachi Toney on ESPN’s early list of 2026 Heisman Trophy candidates

This is what ESPN had to say about Toney:

“Toney’s teammates call him “Baby Jesus,” and the true freshman delivered in a big way in his first season with the No. 10 Hurricanes. He ranks sixth in the FBS with 84 catches and had 1,328 all-purpose yards. Toney even threw for two scores. Not bad for an 18-year-old who would be a senior in high school if he hadn’t reclassified to the class of 2025.” – Mark Schlabach, ESPN.com

What’s working on Toney’s favor is his versatility. That gives him a distinct advantage in being able to create one of those “Heisman moments” that fans and pundits love to talk about. Toney has been prolific as a receiver, but in recent weeks, he’s found himself with the ball in his hands with the ability to throw or run it. That’s fitting since Toney played some quarterback in high school for American Heritage.

He has a passing touchdown against Pittsburgh and converted a two-point try against Louisville. He also returns punts, with a long of 47 yards against SMU and two for a combined 73 yards against the Cardinals.

Miami’s offense, stagnant in the middle of the season with a plodding ground game and uninspired offensive gameplan, has reenergized over their last four games with Toney as the catalyst. Provided Miam’s coaching staff doesn’t lose sight of that again over all 12 games in 2026, the sky is the limit for the Canes’ talented young star next season. And it’s one that could end up in the Big Apple in the second weekend in December for Toney.

College Football

Texas A&M’s Mike Elko might have just given Miami a bit of bulletin board material while complimenting the Hurricanes

The Aggies’ head coach showed a lot of respect for Miami on Sunday, but the name of the Canes’ top playmaker didn’t come out of his mouth.

Craig Smith