As Miami freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney ran in for a 22-yard catch-and-score touchdown in the fourth quarter of the CFP National Championship Game on Monday night, ESPN’s Chris Fowler asked the question that was on everyone’s mind.
“Is this the most exciting player in the sport?” Fowler asked as Toney crossed the goal line.
Fowler’s not wrong to ask that, and what’s even more incredible is Toney shouldn’t even be playing college football right now, much less against undefeated Indiana with a national title on the line.
The 5-foot-11, 188-pound Plantation, Florida, native didn’t even turn 18 years old until the end of September and was supposed to be a senior at American Heritage High School this year — he reclassified from the Class of 2026 to the Class of 2025 to start playing college football early.
It also bumps up when he can play in the NFL.
After 3 college football seasons, he’ll be eligible to enter the NFL draft following the 2028 season and can be drafted in 2029 — when he’ll still be just 20 years old.
Having to make him wait that long seems like a travesty, although NIL deals will make his time in college incredibly lucrative.
“Malachi Toney is 18 years old and could be a meaningful contributor in the NFL today,” NFL reporter Mike Kennedy wrote on X.
Toney Eclipses 1,000 Receiving Yards as Freshman
Toney had already eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards as a true freshman and entered the CFP National Championship Game with 99 receptions for 1,089 yards and 10 total touchdowns.
Against Indiana, he added 10 receptions for 122 yards and 1 touchdown in a 27-21 loss.
“At 5-foot-11, 188 pounds, he is not the biggest player on the field,” ESPN’s Andrea Adelson wrote before the College Football Playoff. “Nor is he the fastest. But (Miami offensive coordinator) Shannon Dawson says Toney’s football knowledge, capability, body control and peripheral vision set him apart now, just as they set him apart as a youth football player in South Florida.”
Led High School to State Championship in 2024
In his final high school football season at American Heritage High, he led his team to a 12-2 record and the Class 4A state championship with 57 receptions, 1,018 yards and 12 touchdowns. That’s with him playing 3 games at quarterback when starter and University of Texas commit Dia Bell was injured. He also threw for 7 touchdowns and rushed for 3 more touchdowns.
Brown’s father, Antonio Brown, played wide receiver for West Virginia in the NFL for 3 seasons from 2003 to 2005 with the Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders. He also played one season in the CFL for the Winnipeg Bombers.
“Inside receiver with the skills to emerge as a high-volume target and a go-to playmaker in a spread attack,” 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins wrote about Toney in 2024. “Elected to forgo his senior year of high school and reclassify after putting up big numbers as an underclassman for one of South Florida’s top talent-producing programs … proven to be extremely efficient working out of a slot alignment as he uses his acceleration and agility to create separation on underneath routes. Advanced eye control and soft hands can lead to highlight-reel worthy grabs. Ability to deliver in key moments throughout his football career despite not being the biggest or fastest shouldn’t be overlooked.”
Why Miami Superstar Malachi Toney Can’t Play in NFL Until 2029