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Sorry NFL, You'll Have to Wait Another Year for Malachi Toney
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Sorry NFL, You'll Have to Wait Another Year for Malachi Toney

Originally posted on Athlon Sports  |  By Luke Easterling  |  Last updated Sep 4, 2026 11:19 PM ET
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He’s already dominating college competition, but Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney won’t be making the leap to the NFL anytime soon.

After a stellar freshman season in 2025, Toney is picking up right where he left off in Friday night’s season opener against Stanford. As of halftime, Toney has racked up 182 yards on 10 receptions, with a pair of touchdowns.

This is the kind of performance that will immediately catch the eyes of NFL fans across the country, as they start imagining what their favorite team’s offense could look like with Toney in the mix. But those fans will have to wait another year, as Toney won’t be eligible to declare for the NFL Draft until 2028.

Toney’s explosiveness and big-play ability helped the Hurricanes roll all the way to the national title game last year, giving fans an immediate look at his elite potential as a pro prospect. He’s wasting little time taking his game to the next level in 2026, consistently putting Cardinal defenders in a blender Friday night while picking up huge chunks of yardage:

A sharp, sudden route-runner with elite speed and short-area burst, Toney’s impressive physical traits are matched by technique and intelligence far beyond his years. He’s consistently able to set up opposing defensive backs with subtle moves to maximize leverage, creating separation with eye-popping acceleration that makes him seem uncoverable in 1-on-1 situations.

Toney is still just 18 years old for another couple of weeks, but he already looks like a rare talent who will continue to dominate his competition at the college level until he’s allowed to make the jump to the NFL.

When that time comes, don’t be surprised when he’s an early first-round pick, eventually making the same kind of impact against NFL defenses.

In the meantime, Toney looks like an early front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, and he could have the Canes back in the national title hunt again this year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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