Miami freshmen Malachi Toney and Bryce Fitzgerald were named FWAA Freshman All-Americans on Wednesday afternoon, the Football Writers Association of America announced.
Toney emerged as one of the most productive receivers in the country during his first collegiate season, leading all freshmen with 99 receptions for 1,089 yards and nine touchdowns across 15 games. He averaged 72.6 receiving yards per game and recorded at least five catches in 13 contests.
The freshman wideout was also named ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year and became the seventh Miami Hurricane to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a season and the first freshman in program history to reach the milestone.
Toney posted multiple standout performances throughout the season, including a season-high 146 receiving yards at Virginia Tech and 135 yards against Louisville. He continued his production in the postseason, catching 22 passes for 226 yards across Miami’s three playoff games, the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal against Texas A&M, the Cotton Bowl versus Ohio State and the Fiesta Bowl against Ole Miss.
Fitzgerald made an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball, appearing in all 15 games as a true freshman. He finished the season with 15 total tackles, including 10 solo stops, while adding one tackle for loss and one sack.
The defensive back recorded six interceptions on the season, including two in Miami’s College Football Playoff first-roundvictory over Texas A&M. He also added two pass breakups and played a key role during Miami’s postseason run, which included appearances in the Cotton Bowl and Fiesta Bowl.
Miami has now produced at least one FWAA Freshman All-American in each of the past three seasons, including Rueben Bain Jr. and Francis Mauigoa in 2023 and O.J. Frederique in 2024.
Fitzgerald and Toney are both South Florida products, with Fitzgerald hailing from Christopher Columbus High School and Toney a product of American Heritage High School.
The Hurricanes will face Indiana in the 2026 CFP National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN and broadcast on 104.3 WQAM.
Toney emerged as one of the most productive receivers in the country during his first collegiate season, leading all freshmen with 99 receptions for 1,089 yards and nine touchdowns across 15 games. He averaged 72.6 receiving yards per game and recorded at least five catches in 13 contests.
The freshman wideout was also named ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year and became the seventh Miami Hurricane to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a season and the first freshman in program history to reach the milestone.
Toney posted multiple standout performances throughout the season, including a season-high 146 receiving yards at Virginia Tech and 135 yards against Louisville. He continued his production in the postseason, catching 22 passes for 226 yards across Miami’s three playoff games, the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal against Texas A&M, the Cotton Bowl versus Ohio State and the Fiesta Bowl against Ole Miss.
Fitzgerald made an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball, appearing in all 15 games as a true freshman. He finished the season with 15 total tackles, including 10 solo stops, while adding one tackle for loss and one sack.
The defensive back recorded six interceptions on the season, including two in Miami’s College Football Playoff first-roundvictory over Texas A&M. He also added two pass breakups and played a key role during Miami’s postseason run, which included appearances in the Cotton Bowl and Fiesta Bowl.
Miami has now produced at least one FWAA Freshman All-American in each of the past three seasons, including Rueben Bain Jr. and Francis Mauigoa in 2023 and O.J. Frederique in 2024.
Fitzgerald and Toney are both South Florida products, with Fitzgerald hailing from Christopher Columbus High School and Toney a product of American Heritage High School.
The Hurricanes will face Indiana in the 2026 CFP National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN and broadcast on 104.3 WQAM.
