Career Summary
Transferred to UCLA ahead of the 2026 campaign after spending his first three collegiate seasons at Ohio State (2023-25) … won the 2024 National Championship with OSU … over 27 games (two starts) at OSU, totaled 20 tackles and three pass breakups.
2025 (Ohio State)
Played the first four games of the season before utilizing a redshirt … notched two tackles (1-1-2).
2024 (Ohio State)
Played in 14 games as a true sophomore during Ohio State’s National Championship season … notched eight tackles (4-4-8) on the year … had two tackles apiece in blowout wins over Iowa (Oct. 5) and Purdue (Nov. 9) … 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.
2023 (Ohio State)
Played in nine games as a true freshman at Ohio State, starting a pair … registered 10 tackles (5-5-10), his most as a Buckeye … made his collegiate debut and recorded his first-career tackle on Sept. 2 at Indiana … made his first collegiate start at Youngstown State on Sept. 9 … had a season-high four tackles against Michigan State on Nov. 11.
High School
Attended Lakota West High School in West Chester Township, Ohio (suburb of Cincinnati) … rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 4 player in the state of Ohio according to the 247 Sports composite rankings … named the Greater Miami Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 … 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 … helped Lakota West allow just 10.0 points per game during a 13-1 season in 2022 … as a senior, had 43 tackles, two interceptions, four TFLs, and five PBUs … posted 58 tackles and two picks as a junior in 2021 … played in the 2023 All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
Personal
Full name: Malik Abayomi Ajani James Hartford ... parents are Zainab and Jim Hartford … has one brother: Jibril ... born in Lewistone, Maine ... majored in marketing at Ohio State ... plans to major in sociology at UCLA ... aspires to play in the NFL and/or be an entrepreneur ... hobbies and interests include golf, fishing, photography, gaming, and fashion ... admires Kobe Bryant because of his mentality ... decided to attend UCLA because "it's the greatest place in the world to play college football" ... cites winning a national championship as his top athletic highlight ... if he wasn't playing football, he'd choose a career in soccer ... his "why" is his faith, family, and friends.
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