45 Facts About Kadarius Toney

Early Life and High School Career

Kadarius Toney's journey to the NFL began in Mobile, Alabama, where he showcased his athletic prowess early on.

1. Birth and Early Life: Kadarius Toney was born on January 27, 1999, in Mobile, Alabama.
2. High School Career: Toney attended Blount High School in Eight Mile, Alabama, where he was the starting quarterback for the last two years of his high school football career.
3. High School Achievements: As a junior, Toney threw for 3,604 yards while rushing for 896 yards and having 53 touchdowns (37 passing, 16 rushing).
4. High School Honors: Toney was named Alabama 6A second-team all-state selection and selected to the AL.com Coastal Alabama first-team as a junior.
5. Senior Year: In his senior year, Toney threw for 2,984 yards while rushing for 894 yards and having 47 touchdowns (32 passing, 15 rushing).
6. Senior Year Honors: Toney was labeled as Alabama 6A Back of the Year, made the 2016 AL.com Super All-State Team, and named Offensive MVP of the 2016 AL.com All-Coastal Alabama team.
7. High School Record: Toney finished his high school career with a 20–5 record as a starter.

College Career at the University of Florida

Toney's versatility and talent shone brightly during his college years, making him a standout player at the University of Florida.

8. College Recruitment: Toney was a consensus three-star recruit as a versatile athlete and received scholarship offers from South Carolina, Georgia Tech, South Alabama, Alabama, and Florida.
9. College Career: Toney played college football at the University of Florida, where he played in 38 games with 13 starts.
10. College Statistics: During his four seasons at Florida, Toney caught 120 passes for 1,490 yards (12.4-yard average) and 12 touchdowns with a long reception of 66 yards.
11. Rushing in College: Toney also occasionally lined up at running back or wildcat quarterback and had 66 rushing attempts for 580 yards (8.8-yard average) and two scores.
12. Special Teams in College: Toney was a productive special teams player, averaging 11.3 yards on 13 punt returns and 21.6 yards on 15 kickoff returns.
13. College Best Season: His most productive season in college was 2020, where he started all 11 games he played in, leading Florida with career-high totals of 70 receptions, 984 yards, and 10 touchdowns.
14. College Rushing in 2020: Toney also rushed for 161 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries in 2020.
15. College Punt Returns in 2020: He averaged 12.6 yards on 11 punt returns and 22.1 yards on seven kickoff returns in 2020.

Transition to the NFL

Kadarius Toney's transition to the NFL was marked by both impressive performances and challenges.

16. NFL Draft: Toney was selected by the New York Giants in the first round with the 20th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
17. Draft Trade: The Giants traded with the Chicago Bears to move back from the 11th pick and received the Bears' first and fifth-round choices in the 2021 draft, plus first and fourth-round choices in the 2022 draft.
18. Rookie Contract: Toney signed a four-year contract worth $13.7 million on June 4, 2021.
19. COVID-19 Reserve List: At the start of training camp, Toney was placed on the team's COVID-19 reserve list.
20. Early Season Struggles: Toney started off slow, having only four receptions through the first three games of his rookie season.
21. Breakout Game: In Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints, Toney recorded six catches for 78 yards in a 27–21 overtime win.
22. Record-Breaking Performance: In Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys, Toney had the best performance of his young career, recording 10 catches for 189 yards and breaking Odell Beckham Jr.'s Giants receiving record for a rookie. However, he was ejected for throwing a punch at Cowboys safety Damontae Kazee during the 44–20 loss.
23. Injury Issues: Toney missed four weeks of the season due to an oblique injury.
24. Second COVID-19 List: On December 13, 2021, Toney was again placed on reserve/COVID-19 list.
25. Rookie Season Statistics: Despite appearing in only ten games, Toney finished the season with the second-most receiving yards on the Giants with 420 on 39 receptions.

Challenges and Trade to the Kansas City Chiefs

Despite a promising start, Toney faced numerous challenges, leading to a mid-season trade.

26. 2022 Season: In the 2022 season, Toney injured his hamstring in Week 2 and missed five games for the Giants.
27. Limited Play in 2022: Before being traded, he only recorded two receptions for zero yards (one reception was for 2 yards, the other was for −2) and no touchdowns.
28. Trade to Kansas City Chiefs: Toney was traded by the Giants to the Kansas City Chiefs midway through his second season.
29. Chiefs' Special Teams Contribution: Toney helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII with his play on special teams.
30. Release from Chiefs: However, due to on-field struggles and injuries, he was released before the 2024 season.

Player Metrics and Performance

Toney's physical attributes and performance metrics highlight his potential and areas for improvement.

31. Player Profile Metrics: Toney's NFL Combine metrics include a height of 5 ft 11+5⁄8 in (1.82 m), weight of 193 lb (88 kg), arm length of 31+1⁄4 in (0.79 m), hand span of 9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m), 40-yard dash time of 4.37 seconds, and a vertical jump of 39+1⁄2 in (1.00 m).
32. Fantasy Football Ranking: In the 2021 season, Toney ranked #96 in fantasy football with an average of 8.2 fantasy points per game.
33. 2023 Season Statistics: In the 2023 season, Toney played 13 games, recording 27 receptions for 169 yards and one touchdown, averaging 6.3 yards per reception.
34. 2022 Season Statistics: In the 2022 season, Toney played nine games, recording 16 receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 10.7 yards per reception.
35. 2021 Season Statistics: In his rookie season, Toney played ten games, recording 39 receptions for 420 yards and zero touchdowns, averaging 10.8 yards per reception.
36. Target Share and Rate: Toney's target share in the 2021 season was 8.1%, with a target rate of 6.8% and a snap share of 26.8%.
37. Route Participation: He participated in 142 routes, averaging 10.9 routes per game and had a route participation rate of 28.6%.
38. Air Yards and Depth: Toney averaged 2.9 air yards per target and had a deep target rate of 3.3%, with an average target depth of 2.9 yards.
39. Deep Targets and Red Zone Targets: He had five deep targets and five red zone targets, with a target quality rating of 4.55 and a catchable target rate of 89.5%.
40. Yards After Catch (YAC): Toney averaged 128 yards after catch per game and had an unrealized air yards total of 71 yards per game.
41. Total Touchdowns: He scored one touchdown in the 2023 season and two touchdowns in the 2022 season, with a total of zero touchdowns in the 2021 season.
42. Fantasy Points Per Game: Toney averaged 4.1 fantasy points per game in the 2023 season and 6.4 fantasy points per game in the 2022 season, with an average of 8.2 fantasy points per game in the 2021 season.
43. College Dominator Rating: Toney had a college dominator rating of 73, indicating his high level of production in college.
44. SPARQ Rating: His SPARQ rating was #100, reflecting his athleticism and speed.
45. Career Path: Despite facing injuries and on-field struggles, Kadarius Toney remains a promising young wide receiver with a bright future in the NFL.

Kadarius Toney's Journey in the NFL

Kadarius Toney's path from high school quarterback to NFL wide receiver is nothing short of inspiring. Born in Mobile, Alabama, Toney showcased his versatility and talent early on at Blount High School. His college career at the University of Florida further highlighted his skills, making him a standout player. Drafted by the New York Giants in 2021, Toney faced challenges, including injuries and on-field struggles. Despite these setbacks, he had moments of brilliance, like his record-breaking performance against the Dallas Cowboys. His trade to the Kansas City Chiefs brought new opportunities, including a significant contribution to their Super Bowl LVII win. Toney's journey is a testament to his resilience and potential. As he continues to develop, fans eagerly await his next moves in the NFL. His story is far from over, and his future looks promising.