Ohio State '23 OH SAF (SO) - Malik Hartford

Malik Hartford is a physical defender who will leave a safety-sized impression on an offense. pic.twitter.com/HIdqQPyeQY

— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) July 14, 2023

 

Playing time may be scarce this year for any of Ohio State's true freshmen defenders, but Malik Hartford could find a role early on special teams. pic.twitter.com/Rn8m844ayj

— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) July 14, 2023

 

Silver Bullet Of The Day
Practice #3
⁦@MalikHartford⁩ #BIA #StrengthAndHonor pic.twitter.com/JQWbzPxgbn

— Jim Knowles (@CoachJimKnowles) August 7, 2023

 

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• Eliano said Malik Hartford’s physical development since he arrived at Ohio State in January “has been nothing short of amazing. That’s a credit to the young man’s maturity, so I’m excited about him.” Eliano said Hartford and Styles are similar with how quickly they’ve picked things up.

 

“It’s day to day, but you feel Malik’s presence on the field. And I think when you’re talking about DBs, we all want to feel their presence on the field, including the fans, you want to feel it, and Malik is a guy who is going to show up around the ball. https://t.co/sdWPboohWY

— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) August 22, 2023

 

Malik Hartford ‘on the path,’ pushing for major role in Buckeyes secondaryhttps://t.co/APmwsorVYj

— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) August 23, 2023

 

Jim Knowles said Malik Hartford’s football intelligence and nose for the football are “rare,” and the freshman safety is in line to play meaningful snaps on defense right away. https://t.co/xLDUYzAwvM

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 30, 2023

 

Ohio State freshman Malik Hartford receives his first career start in place of Josh Proctor. https://t.co/1bhFx91rfx

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 9, 2023

 

• On being benched after one series in his start against Youngstown State: “Coach Knowles thought he did what was best in that situation and what was best for the team, and I just gotta play through it.”
• On earning the opportunity to start in just his second game as a Buckeye: “I feel like I put myself in that position. I worked hard to get there. And then when I got to the moment, I didn’t play as well as I thought I should have.”
• Hartford says he feels more comfortable on the field now. “I kind of settled in a little more being in the game environment a lot more.”
• Hartford thought he “played alright” against Rutgers. He played the final 31 snaps of the game at safety after Josh Proctor took a shot to the head and left the game.
• Hartford said he thinks it’s a “great opportunity” to be getting to play significant snaps as a freshman. “But I just have to go in there and do my job and play for the team, play for my brothers.”
• Hartford said the biggest thing he’s learned from playing as a freshman is “the game speed is a lot different” than it was in high school. The opposing players are also a lot bigger, “so I have to get used to playing in my body frame and being physical.”
• Hartford said he weighed 170 pounds when he arrived at Ohio State and worked his way up to 194 pounds, though he now weighs closer to 190 pounds.
• Hartford said practices have been harder than the games. “I mean, you’re playing against receivers that are first-rounders. And it’s a lot more physical in practice.”
• Hartford said Lathan Ransom, Josh Proctor and Sonny Styles have helped him get acclimated as a freshman. “Those guys, they’ve been here before. They know the system. And they took me under their wing.”