Marcus Freeman Knows the Challenge Malachi Toney Presents for Notre Dame

Notre Dame will welcome No. 1 Miami to South Bend this weekend, which means the Irish will also face perhaps the best player in the country.

Miami receiver Malachi Toney took the nation by storm as a freshman and he’s only become a more dangerous threat as a sophomore.

Through eight games, Toney has recorded 73 receptions for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has five 100-yard games, including a monster performance in the season opener against Stanford, when he tallied 234 yards and three touchdowns.

Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman know Toney well, as he recorded 82 yards and a touchdown in his first collegiate game against the Irish a year ago.

Freeman knew Toney had the potential to become a great player last fall, but he didn't expect him to be an All-American-caliber player the moment he stepped on campus.

“I knew he was a big high school recruit and the thing about him was he was supposed to still be in high school last year,” Freeman said of Toney, who reclassified to the 2025 class. “In your mind, this guy's supposed to be in high school. I know he's a big recruit, but he's supposed to be in high school. Then you see him live in person. You go, " Oh, my gosh. He is the real deal. He wasn't known on the college level, but after that game, he was.” 

If Notre Dame overlooked Toney last year, the Irish certainly won't make that mistake Saturday.

“He's athletic,” said Freeman. “He's fast. He runs good routes. He's competitive. As you've watched him, he's even improved this year. They find ways to get the ball in his hands. They're going to do whatever they can to say, OK, he's got to get a certain amount of touches because that's the type of player he is.” 

What Notre Dame decides to do with Toney on Saturday will be fascinating to watch.

Will Chris Ash attempt to take him away and force other Miami playmakers to beat the Irish, or will he be willing to let Toney get his production as long as the Hurricanes' supporting cast doesn't come up with game-changing plays?

Regardless of what happens with Toney, Notre Dame must also find a way to slow down Miami's running game, led by Mark Fletcher.

The Irish did a good job limiting the Hurricanes on the ground a year ago, holding Miami to 134 yards at 3.5 yards per carry. However, there's a delicate balance to maintaining that success while also accounting for Toney.

“If you get too aggressive, that means you're leaving one-on-one with Malachi Toney,” Freeman explained. “There are some good wideouts other than Malachi Toney. If you want to take him away, they've got some other guys who are really good players.” 

The one thing Notre Dame can't afford to do defensively is panic.

Toney is going to make plays at some point Saturday. That's almost a given. The defensive staff can't panic when it happens, and the players can't lose confidence when he does.

“You can't panic,” stated Freeman. “I would love to be able to say, we'll come up with some defense that prevents him from having any catches. Impossible, right? It just isn't possible.

“Making sure you limit his explosive plays is going to be key. You got to tackle them. We always say rally and gang tackle guys like that, but be accountable. Make sure he's accounted for at all times.”

Notre Dame also has a third option when it comes to defending Toney: putting All-American cornerback Leonard Moore on him.

Ash implemented a similar approach a year ago when Moore shadowed USC receiver and 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner Makai Lemon throughout the game. When facing each other, Moore held Lemon to just two receptions for 28 yards. 

It's an intriguing option, even with a player as talented as Moore. There's also plenty of risk involved. One wrong step against Toney could result in the Miami receiver striking the Heisman pose in the end zone.

Freeman made it clear Notre Dame believes Moore is capable of handling the assignment, pointing to his versatility and ability to play multiple positions in the Irish secondary.

“It's hard to do what Leonard did vs. USC,” said Freeman. “To be a boundary corner and all of a sudden, at times, go play nickel. He has that skill set. He is gifted in his toolbox, as I've been around. His toolbox is extremely large. He has a skill set to be able to play corner and play nickel. I truly believe he could play safety.

“That's the type of player he is. Mentally, he can handle it and physically and that's why he's considered one of the top players in the country.” 

Want the latest scoop on Notre Dame Football and Recruiting? Become an ISD Premium Subscriber and never miss the inside information. Sign Up for ISD