''Just Getting Started''

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Throughout his six-year college career, Carson Beck has been part of more than a few big moments and lined up with plenty of talented playmakers.

But more than once this season, even the veteran quarterback has had to shake his head after taking the field with freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney.

“I’ve said this from the jump, from the first time I met him. There’s just something different about the kid. I just don’t know how to explain it,” Beck said in October after Toney caught two touchdown passes and had 107 yards on seven catches in Miami’s 28-22 win over rival Florida State. “I don’t know how to explain it, but just the way he carries himself, who he is … I mean, he’s in the facility nonstop, 24/7. We meet together. We go over practice film. We go over game film. We talk routes. We talk coverages. We talk about everything. He’s such a smart kid too, which I think helps at the wide receiver position.

“I mean, I’m pretty sure he played quarterback in the state [championship] run they had at American Heritage. … I believe that a quarterback that played wide receiver, a wide receiver that plays quarterback just understands the game so much better and I mean, he shows that just by the way that he plays. Obviously, he’s just uber talented, but I mean, he puts in the work, and he deserves all the success that he’s had this year.”

The Hurricanes had only played five games when Beck gave that ringing endorsement.

Toney only got better as the year progressed.

The freshman finished the regular season as not just Miami’s leading receiver, but one of the top pass catchers in the country.

He led all FBS freshmen – redshirt and true – in receptions (84), receiving yards (970) and receiving yards per game (80.8). His seven touchdowns were tied for first nationally among all FBS freshmen and led the ACC.

In the Hurricanes’ 38-7 win over Pittsburgh in the regular-season finale, Toney broke Miami’s freshman receiving record of 934 yards set in 2016 by Ahmmon Richards.

And against the Panthers, the freshman had not only a touchdown catch – but a touchdown throw, connecting with tight end Elija Lofton in the second quarter to give the Hurricanes a 10-7 lead.

It was a performance that highlighted the many ways Miami’s offense used Toney as the season went on and showed the versatility his teammates had been seeing in practice for months.

On Wednesday, Toney was named both the ACC Rookie of the Year and the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year.

He became the fourth Hurricane to earn the honor following running back Duke Johnson (2012), quarterback Brad Kaaya (2014) and quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (2021).

That followed Toney earning a first-team spot as a receiver and a second-team spot as an all-purpose player on the All-ACC team.

But for all of the success he’s had this season, the soft-spoken Toney has often credited both his teammates, and his faith, for helping him put together his string of dazzling performances.

“I would be lying if I said yes,” Toney responded after the Pittsburgh win when asked if he could have expected the kind of season he had. “I knew what I was going to do for my team. I always knew that I’d do my job and I’d always do what my coaches ask me. But God had other plans for me. His plan is always bigger than my dream. … I just think it really is all glory to God. His plan is so much different from mine.”

While Toney scored a touchdown and made a big impression on Miami fans during the Hurricanes’ spring game back in April, it was his performance in Miami’s season-opening win over then sixth-ranked Notre Dame that gave college football fans across the country their first look at his playmaking ability.

Toney – who was just 17 when he took the field at Hard Rock Stadium for the first time – started against the Irish and finished with six catches for 82 yards. And he scored the Hurricanes’ first points of the season when he caught a 28-yard scoring pass from Beck that gave Miami the early lead.

After the opener, he’d post four 100-yard performances on the season and late in the year, was entrusted with even greater responsibility as offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson turned to the freshman to run Miami’s version of the wildcat and even throw the ball.

The more comfortable Toney became in the college game, the more he was trusted to do.

“It’s fun. He has a unique skillset for sure, and he’s got a very, very, very positive attitude every day,” Dawson said. “He looks forward to doing all this stuff and his capacity is very high, so there’s a lot you can really dump on him, and it doesn’t overload him, which, that’s part of my job, to not [overload him]. He’s got to do the things he does most, the best and making sure that the stuff that we want to do with him that’s a little bit more obscure is not going to bog him down. …

“This is his first year playing, too, and getting to know him and his skillset and tinkering with it and figuring out different things you can do with him is fun.”

As much of an impact as Toney has made on the field, the freshman has made it a priority to be present in the community, too.

The Liberty City native has been present at more than a few of Miami’s community outreach events since arriving on campus, including the Canes Day of Giving during Thanksgiving week.

Days after that, Toney hosted a turkey giveaway – his Toney Foundation’s first – at Hollywood’s Washington Park.

The Hurricanes’ regular-season finale – and his record-breaking performance – at Pittsburgh followed, capping what became an especially memorable week for the freshman and his Miami teammates and coaches.

“It felt great to be able to give back and then come out here and execute my team’s game plan. It was an all-around blessing,” Toney said. “It just means a lot to break that record, knowing how many great receivers have played here and just God has blessed me with the ability and the talent to go out there and get it done. It’s a blessing.”

Said Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal of Toney, “All year long, his dedication, his natural talent and his game-day approach and performances have been absolutely awesome. So, Mali’s just getting started. There isn’t a better freshman in the country. There might not be a better and more exciting player in the country right now than Malachi Toney.”