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Jersey Number 12
Malik Hartford
- Position:
- Defensive Back
- Class:
- Redshirt Junior
- Hometown:
- West Chester, Ohio
- Previous School:
- Lakota West HS / Ohio State
Career Summary
Transferred to UCLA ahead of the 2026 campaign after spending his first three collegiate seasons at Ohio State (2023-25) โฆ won the 2024 National Championship with OSU โฆ over 27 games (two starts) at OSU, totaled 20 tackles and three pass breakups.
ย
2025 (Ohio State)
Played the first four games of the season before utilizing a redshirt โฆ notched two tackles (1-1-2).
ย
2024 (Ohio State)
Played in 14 games as a true sophomore during Ohio Stateโs National Championship season โฆ notched eight tackles (4-4-8) on the year โฆ had two tackles apiece in blowout wins over Iowa (Oct. 5) and Purdue (Nov. 9) โฆ did not record any stats, but saw the field during Ohio State 34-23 win over Notre Dame on Jan. 20, 2025 in the CFB Championship Game.ย
ย
2023 (Ohio State)
Played in nine games as a true freshman at Ohio State, starting a pair โฆ registered 10 tackles (5-5-10), his most as a Buckeye โฆ made his collegiate debut and recorded his first-career tackle on Sept. 2 at Indiana โฆ made his first collegiate start at Youngstown State on Sept. 9 โฆ had a season-high four tackles against Michigan State on Nov. 11.
ย
High School
Attended Lakota West High School in West Chester Township, Ohio (suburb of Cincinnati) โฆ rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 4 player in the state of Ohio according to the 247 Sports composite rankings โฆ named the Greater Miami Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 โฆ selected by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association as the Division I Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year and co-Division I Defensive Player of the Year โฆ helped Lakota West allow just 10.0 points per game during a 13-1 season in 2022 โฆ as a senior, had 43 tackles, two interceptions, four TFLs, and five PBUs โฆ posted 58 tackles and two picks as a junior in 2021 โฆ played in the 2023 All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
ย
Personal
Parents are Zainab and Jim Hartford โฆ majored in marketing at Ohio State.
Transferred to UCLA ahead of the 2026 campaign after spending his first three collegiate seasons at Ohio State (2023-25) โฆ won the 2024 National Championship with OSU โฆ over 27 games (two starts) at OSU, totaled 20 tackles and three pass breakups.
ย
2025 (Ohio State)
Played the first four games of the season before utilizing a redshirt โฆ notched two tackles (1-1-2).
ย
2024 (Ohio State)
Played in 14 games as a true sophomore during Ohio Stateโs National Championship season โฆ notched eight tackles (4-4-8) on the year โฆ had two tackles apiece in blowout wins over Iowa (Oct. 5) and Purdue (Nov. 9) โฆ did not record any stats, but saw the field during Ohio State 34-23 win over Notre Dame on Jan. 20, 2025 in the CFB Championship Game.ย
ย
2023 (Ohio State)
Played in nine games as a true freshman at Ohio State, starting a pair โฆ registered 10 tackles (5-5-10), his most as a Buckeye โฆ made his collegiate debut and recorded his first-career tackle on Sept. 2 at Indiana โฆ made his first collegiate start at Youngstown State on Sept. 9 โฆ had a season-high four tackles against Michigan State on Nov. 11.
ย
High School
Attended Lakota West High School in West Chester Township, Ohio (suburb of Cincinnati) โฆ rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 4 player in the state of Ohio according to the 247 Sports composite rankings โฆ named the Greater Miami Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 โฆ selected by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association as the Division I Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year and co-Division I Defensive Player of the Year โฆ helped Lakota West allow just 10.0 points per game during a 13-1 season in 2022 โฆ as a senior, had 43 tackles, two interceptions, four TFLs, and five PBUs โฆ posted 58 tackles and two picks as a junior in 2021 โฆ played in the 2023 All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
ย
Personal
Parents are Zainab and Jim Hartford โฆ majored in marketing at Ohio State.
This Man Loves His Job: Mic'd Up with UCLA Football Defensive Ends Coach, Sam Daniels
Friday, May 29
If You Love Football, You'll Love This Video: Mic'd Up with UCLA Football OL Coach, Chris Smith
Wednesday, May 27
Step Into the UCLA Receiver Room: Mic'd Up with UCLA WR Coach, Colin Lockett
Thursday, May 21
How Much Caffeine Did You Have, Coach!? Mic'd Up w/ UCLA Football Safeties Coach, Anthony DiMichele
Thursday, May 21
