Prospect Grade 6.36 Will be starter within first two seasons
Toney came to Gainesville from Mobile, Alabama, after winning Class 6A Back of the Year honors as a senior quarterback at Blount High School. He started twice in eight appearances as a true freshman for the Gators, once at receiver (15 receptions, 152 yards, 10.1 average) and once at running back (14 carries, 120 yards, 8.6 yards per carry, one touchdown), despite battling injuries during the season. Toney was suspended for the first game of the 2018 season for "not living up to the Gator standard." He suited up for 12 games in a reserve role that year, even playing some Wildcat quarterback (25 receptions, 260 yards, 10.4 average, one TD; 21 carries, 240 yards, 11.4 yards per carry; six kick returns, 133 yards, 22.2 average). He played that Wildcat role again in 2019 but could only play in seven contests due to a shoulder injury (10 receptions, 194 yards, 19.4 average, one TD; 12 carries, 59 yards, 4.9 yards per carry). Toney exploded into the national college football consciousness in 2020, leading the Gators' potent offense with 70 receptions for 984 yards (14.1 per) while scoring 10 touchdowns (tied for seventh most in the FBS). He also contributed as a runner (19 carries, 161 yards, 8.5 yards per carry, one touchdown) and returner (seven kick returns, 155 yards, 22.1 average, 11 punt returns, 139 yards, 12.6 average, one touchdown) in 11 starts. The Associated Press voted him second-team All-American as an all-purpose player, SEC league coaches voted him first-team all-conference in that realm (second-team as a receiver) and he was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award (most versatile performer). He opted out of the Gators' bowl game and accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.
Overview
Slot talent who competes like a player bigger than his listed size. Toney has battled injuries, which helped cap his production until the 2020 season, when it finally clicked for the entire offense. His routes can look like one-on-one isolation basketball moves at times, but he has the ability to make instant cuts and break his routes off sharply. He could become a much more creative and consistent route runner in due time. He's an atypical NFL slot in some ways and is likely to do his best work in a scheme that allows him plenty of run-after-catch opportunities. He'll need more polish but should contribute right away as a receiver and punt returner.
Strengths
Access to early acceleration to uncover.
Joints like rubber bands for instant change of direction.
Has potential to run complex first- and second-level routes.
Can run an inside-pivot whip route that is unguardable.
Plus value in quick game and as gadget option.
Competed through injury and made play after play against LSU.
Over-the-shoulder ball-tracking talent.
Makes catches outside his frame.
Very good open-field vision for run after catch.
Strong legs with ability to wiggle and elude or break the tackle.
More physical than expected with ball in his hands.
Will not half-step as a run finisher, so buckle up.
Can step right in as punt returner.
Weaknesses
Only one season of high-level production.
Battled injuries and missed chunks of action in both 2017 and '19.
Route speed looks turned down at times.
Route inefficiencies will need to be corrected.
Too much freestyling and wasted motion in and out of breaks.
Can play with better strength against tight man at the top of the route.
Might have issues handling contested catch duties underneath.
Toney is a dangerous slot receiver and return man at his best in space. He has rare explosiveness to go along with good open-field instincts and contact balance. Florida did a good job of scheming to help him get open, and there's still room to get better, but he has made strides as a route runner. Toney impressed during one-on-ones the week of the Senior Bowl and has excellent natural separation skills.
PROS Rare ability with the ball in his hands. Some might say generational. Flexibility to sink in cuts is a sight to behold. Creates his own routes. Elite acceleration. Uses it well to vary speeds along route, too. Only three career drops on 123 catchable passes. Plucks ball away from body.
CONS Wholly unpolished route-runner. Nowhere near as precise as he’ll need to be in NFL. How he’ll fare in traffic is an unknown. 10 contested-catch opportunities in career. Injuries limited him to only 510 snaps over first three years at Florida. Top speed doesn’t match burst.
Summary: Immediately after landing with Florida, Toney flashed big-play ability and looked like had the potential to be a star. During Toney's underclassmen years, the Gators' offense was held back by inconsistent quarterback play along with a weak offensive line - that dysfunction led to a coaching change. Florida was also very deep at receiver, spreading the ball around to a number of future pros. As a result, Toney did not produce much though the air as a freshman (15-152) and sophomore (25-260-1), but did run for 360 yards on 35 carries with a touchdown on the ground over those years.
Toney looked poised to explode as a junior in 2019 after a tremendous season-opener against Miami, but an injury knocked him out for the majority of the year, leaving him with just 10 catches - for 194 yards and a touchdown. Things finally fell into place for Toney in 2020, as he stayed healthy and had a talented quarterback in Kyle Trask to work with. Toney ripped off 984 yards on 70 receptions and scored 10 times. He also took 19 carries for 161 yards and another touchdown. His dynamite 2020 season led to an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he impressed team sources with his explosive playmaking ability.
Toney is a special wide receiver who is phenomenal at creating separation to get open for his quarterback. There is no doubt he is an explosive playmaker who is a threat to rip off a long gain on any reception. Toney is a truly explosive receiver who has mismatch ability for the NFL. Cornerbacks really struggle to run with Toney, who is extremely quick on top of being extremely sudden and explosive in and out of his breaks. That leads to him easily creating separation, and when he gets the ball, he is deadly. Toney possesses natural running instincts, and he turns into a running back once he gets the ball, gaining tremendous amounts of yards after the catch with his elite explosion and elusive moves in the open field.
What really sets Toney apart is how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands. He has excellent vision to weave around defenders and uses his speed to rip off yards in chunks. Along with his quick first-step, Toney has a second gear and a burst in the open field with some serious explosion. He has quick feet and cutting ability, allowing him to stop-start, stutter step, maintain contact balance, and run tough to get yards after contact. When the ball hits Toney on the run, he is a big problem for defenders because he is tough to grab in the open field with his shifty moves. Toney has enough speed to run away from defenders and take a catch the distance. Toney is superb on screens and jet sweeps to race through the defense.
Toney will bring significant versatility to the NFL. He can line up as an outside receiver and play the X - split end - to challenge teams vertically. Toney also is dangerous out of the slot and could be a tough receiver to defend on underneath routes. With his natural ability as a runner, Toney also could take some carries out of the backfield, alhtough given his size and durability history, that role will need to be limited in the NFL. On top of his offensive skills, Toney is a dynamic returner who could contribute on special teams, but his pro team will probably use him very selectively as a returner to protect his health.
The only real concern about Toney for the next level is durability. He had injury issues prior to his senior year and is undersized. He could have issues staying healthy and avoiding getting dinged up.
From his 2020 season and Senior Bowl performance, there is no doubt that Toney is a playmaker who could contribute immediately in the NFL. He could be a Deebo Samuel- or Curtis Samuel-type weapon as a receiver, runner and returner. Toney excelled against good competition and is ready to hit the ground running as a pro. In the 2021 NFL Draft, Toney could get consideration late in the first round. If he slips to the second night of the 2021 NFL Draft, he should be among the first players to come off the board in Round 2.
Player Comparison: Deebo Samuel Toney's explosive playmaking ability and his dangerous run-after-the-catch skills remind me of Samuel coming out of South Carolina. Samuel was a high second-round pick - 36th overall - in the 2019 NFL Draft and has been a playmaker for the 49ers. Toney could go late in the first round or early in the second round during the 2021 Draft and end up as a playmaker comparable to Samuel in the NFL.
Explosive playmaker
Dynamic run-after-the-catch receiver
Constantly creates separation
Phenomenal receiver
Threat to score or rip off long gains on any touch
