The No. 12 Miami Hurricanes pass the eye test as a 2025 College Football Playoff caliber team.
In this ongoing series, InsideTheU will break down the various ways Miami presents itself as a team that deserves a spot in the 12-team playoff.
In this article, we focus on how Miami features one of the most dynamic offensive playmakers in the country at slot receiver. Malachi Toney.
In previous episodes of the “Eye Test Chronicles,” we highlighted how Miami quarterback Carson Beck is playing as well as every signal-caller in the country during this final stretch of the season, as well as a look at how the Hurricanes are the best scrimmage team in the country.
Toney’s emergence as a true freshman has made Miami’s offense dangerous as he is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the country with his ability to be a receiver who can make plays down the field or generate yards after catch in the short game and then also be a threat on jet sweeps and also a passing threat on a tricky play.
During the season, Toney caught 71 passes for 844 yards and six touchdowns while throwing the ball 12 times for 59 yards and a touchdown and also completing 3 of 4 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.
That’s 976 yards of offense and eight touchdowns.
Toney is also one of the best punt returners in the country, averaging 15.2 yards per attempt on 11 attempts, putting him in the top ten in the country in that metric.
Heading into this final week of the regular season, Toney ranks 23rd in the nation in receiving yards. What makes Toney a dangerous threat is his ability to rack up yards after a catch. Toney ranks third in the nation with 530 yards receiving this season. Toney has forced 24 missed tackles as a receiver, which ranks third in the nation.
Toney is also a dynamic target on the field outside of the slot. According to PFF, Toney caught 8 of 14 deep throw targets for 253 yards and three touchdowns. He took 2 of 3 contested catch opportunities on those deep shot attempts.
Toney doesn’t make mistakes either. He was targeted 90 times all year and according to PFF, he hasn’t dropped a catchable pass this year.
According to PFF, there are 14 receivers in the country who have been targeted at least 50 times and have not dropped a catchable pass. Toney has by far the most targets of this group, with David Wells having the second-most targets of these receivers without a drop at 72 targets.
Toney is also a threat as a runner, converting four first downs in that role and scoring a touchdown. He forced three missed tackles as a runner.
As a passer, Toney earned a 90.4 passing grade from PFF and was classified as having made a “big throw” this year. Toney made a deep throw that traveled 23 yards downfield, a short pass and a pass behind the line of scrimmage.
Overall, Toney is one of the best point guards in the country. When you combine his playmaking ability with the solid play of quarterback Carson Beck and the fact that the Hurricanes are the best scrimmage team in the country and it’s another way this Miami 2025 team passes the eye test.
A CFP team has an explosive offensive weapon to present. Toney is that Hurricanes player this year.
Which top 15 teams have talented players with at least 900 yards of offense and eight touchdowns? Here is the list…
– Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith (922 offensive yards, 10 TDs)
– Texas A&M WR Kevin Concepcion (883 offensive yards, 9 TDs)
– Texas Tech RB Cameron Dickey (1,123 offensive yards, 14 TDs)
– Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy (1,275 offensive yards, 19 TDs)
– Notre Dame RB Jeremiah Love (1,580 offensive yards, 20 TDs)
– Miami WR Malachi Toney (976 offensive yards, 8 TDs)
– BYU RB LJ Martin (1,323 offensive yards, 8 TDs)
– Michigan RB Jordan Marshall (953, 10 TDs)
-Michigan RB Justice Haynes (907, 10 TD)
