Why Jeremiah Smith is paying close attention to Miami star Malachi Toney

By
admin
-
0
1

After breaking the Ohio State receiving yards record during the Buckeyes’ win over Kent State on Sept. 19, Jeremiah Smith was asked whether he happens to watch college football on Fridays.

“Always,” Smith responded with a laugh.

Advertisement

He seemingly caught the reference to Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney, who had recently lit up the stat sheet for the Hurricanes in a 33-20 win over Wake Forest.

More on Jeremiah Smith: Jeremiah Smith isn’t chasing history; he’s rewriting it at Ohio State

Toney, once recruited by the Buckeyes, burst onto the scene for Miami in his 2025 freshman season while leading the FBS in receptions and the ACC in yards and touchdowns. He is one of the top wide receivers in the country.

Smith is well aware of the comparisons between him and Toney and confirmed he’s been keeping an eye on his play.

1 / 14

OSU wide receiver Jeremiah Smith in action: Photos from 2026 Ohio State football season

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) reacts during the third day of training camp at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Aug. 8, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.

(Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch)

“Malachi [Toney] is going off week in and week out,” Smith said. “Little friendly competition. I mean, I see him go off, so I’m trying to have a good game as well.”

Advertisement

Toney was a four-star prospect from American Heritage High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the No. 49 receiver in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports. Around a 20-minute drive southeast of American Heritage is Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School, where Smith spent three years of his high school football career.

“I mean, [we’re] just both from Dade County, both from South Florida, so all we’re trying to have a little competition here and there,” Smith said.

Sep 10, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (1) scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the Florida A&M Rattlers at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Sep 10, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (1) scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the Florida A&M Rattlers at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Through three weeks of the 2026 season, Toney and Smith are the only two non-quarterbacks with reasonable odds to win the Heisman Trophy. Per BetMGM, they are currently tied with the third-best odds at +1000 along with Texas quarterback Arch Manning and Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor. The two favorites are Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Darian Mensah, Toney’s quarterback at Miami.

Mensah, a transfer from Duke, has the highest completion percentage in the FBS through three games. His favorite target is Toney, who has 28 receptions for 444 yards, which are both second in the FBS. (Baylor’s Gavin Freeman has 29 catches. Oregon State’s Jesse Legree has 475 yards.)

Advertisement

Smith has 21 receptions and his 400 yards give him the fourth-most in college football.

Recruit Malachi Toney visits Ohio Stadium during the Ohio State, Michigan game.

Recruit Malachi Toney visits Ohio Stadium during the Ohio State, Michigan game.

See a comparison of the two wide receivers’ stats through three games and from the 2025 season below.

Jeremiah Smith vs. Malachi Toney head-to-head comparison

2025:

  • Games played: Jeremiah Smith 13, Malachi Toney 16

  • Receptions: Smith 87, Toney 109

  • Receiving yards: Smith 1,243, Toney 1,211

  • Receiving touchdowns: Smith 12, Toney 10

  • Yards per reception: Smith 14.3, Toney 11.1

  • Receiving yards per game: Smith 95.6, Toney 75.7

2026:

  • Games played: Smith 3, Toney 3

  • Receptions: Smith 21, Toney 28

  • Receiving yards: Smith 400, Toney 444

  • Receiving touchdowns: Smith 3, Toney 5

  • Yards per reception: Smith 19.0, Toney 15.9

  • Receiving yards per game: Smith 133.3, Toney 148.0

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why Jeremiah Smith is paying close attention to Miami star Malachi Toney

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR