Malik Hartford said he committed to Ohio State because the Buckeyes give him “the ability to play for championships, get developed, go to the NFL.”
Now that his college decision is made, Hartford is continuing to heal from a torn labrum he suffered midseason in 2021, but he says he’ll be back to full speed by the summer. Although he was playing through a shoulder injury, Hartford continued to be an effective player for the Firebirds last fall. He says the adrenaline of being out on the field helped numb the pain, and his toughness impressed his teammates and coaches alike.
Because of the defense Bolden and Lakota West deploy, Hartford may not have as big of a learning curve from a schematic standpoint as other freshmen when he arrives on campus. Similar to Jim Knowles’ defensive scheme, the Firebirds utilize three safeties at once. Hartford said he hasn’t been told by anyone at OSU whether he projects as more of a strong or free safety, just that he’s viewed as a versatile, long and fast player. Bolden said he could handle either role just fine, but thinks Hartford is best suited for a free safety role.
Injury and all, Hartford registered 58 tackles, two interceptions and a sack for Lakota West last season. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound prospect was also a dynamic special teams player, blocking six kicks in 2021 and excelling in kickoff coverage. If he continues to display his tenacity for blocking and covering kicks when he arrives in Columbus, he could find himself on the field sooner rather than later.
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