ESPN announcer debates whether Malachi Toney or Jeremiah Smith is the better all-around player, and the answer is hard to argue with

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The nation’s two best playmakers are incredible in their own rights, but one is the more complete football player.

The 2026 college football season is still months away, but there’s still plenty to chew on as we grind through the long offseason.

Recently, On3 Sports put out a top 100 players list for next year, and two of the sport’s best and most exciting players – Miami WR Malachi Toney and Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith – found themselves in the top five, with Smith being number one overall.

But which young South Florida product is the better overall player?

That topic came up with Greg McElroy on his ESPN College Football podcast this past week. A viewer sent in a question asking him who the better all-around football player is between the two. McElroy made his case and picked Toney.

ESPN’s Greg McElroy says Miami WR Malachi Toney is the better all-around football player than Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith

“This answer might surprise many – the answer is Malachi Toney,” McElroy said.

McElroy went on to clarify the context of his answer, in that it’s about the best all-around player, and that when it comes to the best pure wide receiver, Smith clearly gets that nod. But McElroy pointed out Toney’s diverse skillset and utilization as for why he feels he’s the better all-around player.

“When I say Malachi Toney is the better all-around player, I’m not saying he’s better at playing wide receiver. He is not. Nobody in college football is better than Jeremiah Smith. What I am saying is that Malachi Toney is a different kind of football player entirely. That’s because he has to be.

“He doesn’t have Jeremiah Smith’s size. He does not have Jeremiah Smith’s physical dominance at the catch point. He’s just 5-11, 188, and that 5-11 might be a touch generous.

“He led the entire FBS in receptions with 109. He had over 1200 yards receiving. He has had 113 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground while completing four of six passes in the wildcat for 82 (yards) and two touchdowns. He also contributed 300 punt return yards.”

Indeed Toney’s broad skillset, usage, and production has made him one of the most versatile players in all of college football. He made huge plays downfield in the passing game, delivering deep touchdown grabs to beat Notre Dame and Florida State. He served as an extension of the run with the screen/short passing game. Miami also got him involved in the “Mali-cat” package, allowing him to run free or throw the ball. As McElroy also notes, he played quarterback in high school and came in for an injured starter to lead his team under center to the state title.

There’s honestly little counterargument to Toney being the best total package as far as a football player. Miami dispatches him in every way they can, and he creates big plays in a multitude of ways.

McElroy says that Jeremiah Smith is the better wide receiver than Malachi Toney

But when it comes to being the best wide receiver, McElroy correctly points out that no one touches Smith.

“Jeremiah Smith is the undisputed best receiver in the sport.

“If you look at Jeremiah Smith, he is the master of playing wide receiver at the college football level, and in all likelihood, he’ll be a master of playing receiver at the NFL level as well.

“So, pound for pound, well-rounded, multi-dimensional football player, Malachi Toney is the answer. However, if I need a wide receiver to win me the game, and I needed a wide receiver over college football in the last decade to win me a game, it’s Jeremiah Smith.”

Both players should be electric again in 2026, and if both play up to their potential, we could see the Buckeyes and Hurricanes back on the field against each other in the College Football Playoff.

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