Malachi Toney Compared to Spiderman by Miami HC Mario Cristobal After CFP Run in 2025-26 Season

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal had high praise for Malachi Toney after the wide receiver helped lead the Hurricanes to the national championship game as a true freshman.

"He is off the charts. He's like Spiderman," Cristobal said about Toney, per The Athletic's Bruce Feldman.

Toney, who turned 18 in May, reclassified to the 2025 recruiting class in order to join Miami in what was originally meant to be his senior year of high school.

He led the nation with 109 catches as a true freshman while racking up 1,211 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns through 16 games with the Hurricanes.

Those totals included 10 catches for 122 yards with a touchdown during Miami's 27-21 championship game loss to Fernando Mendoza and Indiana last January.

Toney also ran for 113 yards and a touchdown in addition to throwing two touchdown passes and boosting the Hurricanes' run game as a blocker.

All of that provided Miami with plenty of motivation to make sure Toney stayed in Coral Gables. Thanks to increased NIL compensation, Toney was expected as of January to become one of the nation's highest-paid wide receivers in 2026, CBS Sports' Brad Crawford reported.

Cristobal will now hope Toney's return for a second season with Miami will provide transfer quarterback Darian Mensah with one of the weapons he needs to lead the Hurricanes back to the championship game this winter.