Andre Johnson: Malachi Toney Has No Ceiling

Twenty-five years after Miami’s 2001 national championship, Andre Johnson still sees his former teammates as brothers. Reuniting with them is a chance to catch up, share memories, and celebrate a bond that has lasted long after their final snap together.

Hard Rock Bet caught up with the Hurricanes legend at an exclusive golf event celebrating the 25th anniversary of that title-winning season. Johnson discussed what makes the Miami brotherhood special before turning his attention to today’s college football stars.

From why he believes Malachi Toney has no ceiling to his connection with Jeremiah Smith, Johnson offered his perspective on two standout receivers – and named the three players he believes belong at the Heisman Trophy ceremony if it were held today.

How much fun is it reuniting with your former teammates, former Canes legends?

It’s fun, man. All these guys are my brothers. Like, I think people don’t understand how playing a game can bring you so close to people that are from all different demographics, right? You all come together to accomplish one goal, and you accomplish it, and you guys can create memories that last a lifetime. So, when you’re around them, it’s just like I’m around my brothers, so I can have fun. Nobody’s judging. It’s just the best thing in the world. It was tough for me trying to figure out if I could come (to the golf event) or not. I was so happy I was able to make it, to be here and hang out with them and catch up with everybody. This is awesome. I wouldn’t trade this for nothing in the world.

What is it about The U football program? You guys are so united. It’s such a historic program.

The funny thing, you asked me that question… everybody asks me that. Guys who played at other colleges, it was like, y’all just seem like you have something special. And I was like, you have to go through it to really understand it. It’s a lot of sacrifice. People don’t understand that. At the end of the day, when you think you’re THAT guy, for some reason when you walk in that locker room, you gotta check yourself. That was, like, the biggest thing. Nobody was bigger than the program. And that’s what makes it so special because even right now to this day, if you’re a walk on, or even a starter, right? When you walk around the guys and you see the guys (in the program), you’re gonna get recognized. That’s what it’s all about. Like, nobody’s bigger than the program. We’re Canes. We’re all Canes. I don’t care what year you were. It’s all love, and it’s amazing. I think this is the best brotherhood you can ever ask for.

You were an elite wide receiver. You know what it takes to be the very best at that position. When you look at Malachi Toney, what do you think his ceiling is, and how impressed are you with his game so far?

To be honest, I’ve known Malachi since he was a little kid. Ceiling? I really don’t think Malachi has a ceiling. And the reason I say that is because you don’t find a kid that leaves high school early, skips their senior year, comes and puts up the numbers that he put up.

His dedication to excellence is something you don’t see in a kid that young. So I would never say that he has a ceiling because he gets it. He’s one of the few kids that really gets it, you know? It’s a joy to sit and watch him play because he’s not the biggest guy. He’s not the strongest guy. He’s not the fastest guy, but he competes at a very, very high level. And that’s the thing you love. Like, I just love football players and Malachi is a great football player, and that’s what I love about him. Mark Fletcher may break off a 60-yard run, but it’s hard not to see, like, who Malachi’s blocking? He’s a little dude, but he blocks like he’s a big dude. So there’s no disrespect to any other guys on the team. I love watching all of them play, but, you know, Malachi is a little special because, you know, the relationship.

He’s a hell of a player, and he gets it. He understands the dedication, the hard work. Guys getting up at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning just to go catch footballs, like, that’s crazy. You don’t hear that from guys at that age.

Another South Florida guy that’s really showing out in college football is Jeremiah Smith, should he be the Heisman frontrunner right now?

The crazy thing, I have a picture of me and Jeremiah in my phone. I used to do a community day here in Miami, and me and him took a picture together at some point, and someone sent it to me, and I’m just like, wow. I never knew, you know, that was Jeremiah at that time.

We’re coached by the same guy in high school. I can remember when Coach Crawford got his hands on Jeremiah, and he told me. He was like, “Dre, I think I found the next YOU”. And I was like, okay. For him to say that, I’m like, okay. And then when I saw Jeremiah play, I’m like, oh my God, this kid is a hell of a football player.

What he’s done so far, frontrunner for the Heisman, I get it. I mean, I think at the end of the day to win the Heisman as a wide receiver, it’s gonna be tough. Like, because you have to look at the last wide receiver to win the Heisman. You look at DeVonta Smith. You look at his stats: the guy had 23 touchdowns. And I’m just talking about touchdowns. I’m not talking about yards and all the other things. So it’s gonna be tough.

If it was up to me, I think the Heisman should come down to him and Malachi. That’s just my personal opinion. But I think Darian Mensah is making a great case too and he should be in there. You know what I’m saying? We’ll see what happens. I think you gotta at least let the season play out, see what happens. But I wouldn’t say that Jeremiah is a frontrunner. I think you have a couple guys that could be the frontrunner, and I think Malachi is one. I think Darian Mensah is one. And I’m not being biased, but I think if you look at it right now, I think those are the three dudes. I think Malachi, Jeremiah Smith, and Darian Mensa are the top three guys. If you had a Heisman Trophy ceremony right now, I think those are the three guys you put in it.