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Before he ever caught a pass for the University of Miami, Malachi Toney was already a legend in South Florida circles, known by a nickname most players would be too humble to claim: "Baby Jesus."
He earned the moniker as a high school phenom at American Heritage — so captivating that head coach Mario Cristobal’s own son once asked to skip school just to watch him play. Since arriving in Coral Gables, Toney has proven the hype was anything but sacrilegious. As a 17-year-old true freshman who reclassified to get on campus early, he has emerged as one of the most electrifying playmakers in college football.
With nearly 100 receptions and over 1,000 yards in his debut season, Toney has shattered program records once held by Miami greats and has been the primary catalyst for the Hurricanes' return to national prominence. Whether he's mossing veteran DBs or weaving through entire secondaries on jet sweeps, "Baby Jesus" has performed the ultimate miracle for the Miami faithful: helping officially bring "The U" back to the promised land.
Here's more on Toney's nickname.
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Why do they call Malachi Toney 'Baby Jesus?'
Toney earned the nickname "Baby Jesus" during his time at American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida. It was born out of his status as a local phenom who was considered a "must-see" attraction, similar to South Florida legends like Frank Gore. His play was so captivating that it famously led Mario Cristobal's son to ask if he could skip school just to witness the young star in person.
NEW: Malachi Toney bought into Mario Cristobal’s vision for Miami and helped make it real🙌
"We were in practice, he started making plays, and I was like, 'Who is that?' And they were like, 'They call him Baby Jesus.'
And I'm a pretty religious guy, so you better be him to be… pic.twitter.com/0r7HzEf9nJ
The nickname was further solidified by his ability to lead his team to victory regardless of the circumstances. During his high school career, when American Heritage faced a mid-season crisis due to a quarterback injury, Toney stepped in at the position and led them to a state championship. In the title game, he put on a nearly perfect performance, completing 15-of-15 passes (or 15-of-18 by some accounts) to secure the trophy.
Your telling me Malachi Toney was playing QB in high school??😂 pic.twitter.com/EapEdoI07e
— Clutch P1cks (@clutchp1cks) January 9, 2026Beyond the flashy nickname, Toney is revered for a work ethic that coaches describe as holy. Despite being a true freshman who reclassified to join the Hurricanes at just 17 years old, he has been praised for his professional approach, often being the first to arrive and the last to leave the facility. This combination of divine natural talent and intense discipline has allowed the "Baby Jesus" legend to grow from a local high school story into a national college football headline.
MORE: Revisiting Miami's last national championship
Malachi Toney height and weight
Toney is listed at 5 feet 11 inches with a weight of 188 pounds.
Despite being just 17 years old for most of the 2025 season, Toney played with a veteran's understanding of space and leverage, allowing him to thrive as a starting wideout while moonlighting as a quarterback and return specialist.
brb watching malachi toney highlights on repeat 🔁🍿 @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/FKhTnE4wrM
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) January 14, 2026Toney has been clocked at a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, which is exceptionally fast for a player his age, though his "game speed" is often described as even faster. e was a key member of the American Heritage track team, competing in the 4x100 relay where his team posted elite times (as low as 42.45 seconds).
MORE: Why did Mario Cristobal leave Oregon?
Malachi Toney freshman stats
In 2025, Toney was the best freshman receiver, and one of the best receivers, in all of college football.
| Category | Stat |
| Receptions | 99 |
| Receiving Yards | 1,089 |
| Receiving TDs | 9 |
| Total TDs | 12 |
| Yards Per Game | 72.6 |
| 100-Yard Games | 4 |
He led all freshman in receptions, receiving yards, yards per game and touchdowns. He also set the Miami freshman records for receptions and yards, along with the Hurricanes' single-season record for receptions.
No. 10 also reeled in just a few awards.
- FWAA Offensive Freshman of the Year
- ACC Rookie of the Year
- ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year
- AP All-America Second Team
- Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Finalist
- First-team All-ACC (Wide Receiver)
- Second-team All-ACC (All-Purpose)
- 247Sports True Freshman of the Year
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