Ourlads' Profile:
2024 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about MALIK MUSTAPHA:
Wake Forest | HT: 5101 | WT: 209 | 40 time: 4.56 | Arm: 3018 | Hand: 0900 | Wing: 7212
Two-year starter. 2023 second-team All-ACC selection. Typically aligns as the field safety in Wake Forest’s defense that utilizes a combination of one-high and two-high coverages. Has fringe height and good weight with a muscular frame and long arms. An exceptional athlete who makes play all over the field. Smooth backpedal with considerable hip fluidity to open up on a dime. Good instincts and vision to weave with the quarterback’s eyes while recognizing route concepts in front of him. Excellent range as a deep defender; a true sideline-to-sideline player. Lightning quick in transition to break on underneath routes from depth. Outstanding click and close ability when the ball is out to get in-phase and break up passes with quality ball skills. Patient when he gets a run read to confirm, and flies downhill with notable burst and acceleration. In run support, works through traffic with very good agility and balance to make his way to the ball carrier. Takes great angles in space; has a knack for finding the ball. A feasible blitzing option who fires downhill like a missile while using speed and athleticism to pressure the quarterback. Shows the versatility to play in the slot. Bad habit of opening up his hips too early in man coverage which he has been able to get away with at the college level thanks to his athletic profile. Must improve his open-field tackling agility to take the next step; drops his head and lunges regularly which causes him to miss. Fringe functional strength to bring well-built ball carriers to the ground on his own.
2023 Stats: 80 T, 5 TFL, .5 sack, 2 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 FF, 1 INT. Draft projection: 2nd/3rd round