Kirk Herbstreit names Miami's Malachi Toney as 2025 Newcomer of the Year in annual Herbie Awards

Miami freshman receiver Malachi Toney was named the Herbie Awards’ 2025 Newcomer of the Year on Friday night as selected by ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit. Despite being a true freshman, Toney led the Hurricanes in receiving with 84 receptions for 970 yards and seven touchdowns on the season.

The 5-foot-11, 188-pound freshman was a bit of a surprise this season after signing as a three-star 2025 product out of American Heritage in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Toney posted four 100-yard receiving games this season, including back-to-back to end the regular season when he combined for 25 receptions and 272 yards and two scores in wins over Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh. His late-season effort undoubtedly helped the Hurricanes secure the final at-large bid in the upcoming College Football Playoffs after leapfrogging Notre Dame for the No. 10 seed on Selection Sunday.

In addition, Toney was also named On3’s Offensive True Freshman of the Year as a member of the 2025 On3 True Freshman All-American Team.

“Few, if any, first-year players were more consistently productive or impactful at a high level than Malachi Toney. The Miami wide receiver opened his freshman season with a statement performance in the Hurricanes’ critical win over Notre Dame and closed it as one of the most reliable and explosive weapons in college football,” On3’s Charles Power wrote. “Toney finished the regular season with 84 receptions for 970 yards and seven touchdowns, the most receiving yards of any true freshman and tied for the most touchdown catches. His background as a high school quarterback added another dimension to Miami’s offense, as he threw two touchdown passes and rushed for one more.

“Toney’s quickness and playmaking instincts make him dangerous after the catch. He accounted for 350 yards after the catch with an average depth of target of 6.6, according to Pro Football Focus. Whether working out of the slot or moving around the formation, the South Florida native has proven nearly impossible to contain,” Power continued. “His playmaking ability was pivotal to Miami’s playoff push as he became the focal point of the Hurricanes’ passing attack. Given his play as a true freshman, it’s safe to say the Fort Lauderdale American Heritage product will enter next season as one of college football’s premier wide receivers. Toney’s performance as a true freshman is even more impressive considering that he should still be in high school, having reclassified into the 2025 cycle late in the recruiting process.”

Toney and No. 10 Miami (10-2) travels to College Station for a first-round Playoff game against No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1) at 12 noon ET, from Kyle Field.