Malik Mustapha, SAF, Wake Forest
Size:
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 209 pounds
Arm Length: 30 1/8"
Hand Size: 9”
Accomplishments:
Senior Bowl invite (2023)
“Malik Mustapha is a high-energy player who is consistently around the football. He is a box safety with good burst who displays good short area burst, instincts, and tackling ability.”
Strengths:
Instincts
Tackling
Physicality/energy
Concerns:
Range
Overaggression
Length
Film Analysis:
Wake Forest safety Malik Mustapha is one of the more physical players in this class. A three-year starter for the Demon Deacons, Mustapha was the heart and soul of their defense and a team captain. Before becoming a star in the ACC, Mustapha played one year at Richmond and then transferred to Wake Forest.
Mustapha is a versatile player who played both safety spots as well as nickel. He projects as a strong safety in the NFL as he is best near the line of scrimmage. Mustapha has just above average size for the position and lacks top-end length and athleticism.
In the run game, Mustapha displays excellent awareness and football intelligence. He quickly can diagnose the play and trigger down to the ball-carrier, which allows him to make a ton of plays without having elite straight-line speed. He has good short-area quickness and can explode through gaps to make plays in the backfield. He is a good tackler in the open field and offers good hitting power to dislodge the football. He is strong enough at the point of attack to defeat and shed blocks and still make the tackle.
Mustapha plays with his hair on fire and his energy is contagious. He is an aggressive player who wants to make every tackle. While I love that about his game, it also gets him into some trouble. There are times when he is too aggressive and will overrun his pursuit angle and leave room for cutback lanes.
In the passing game, Mustapha displays excellent instincts in zone coverage and can read the quarterback's eyes and head to the football. For a stiff athlete, Mustapha has above-average range because of his instincts but he is by no means a center fielder at the next level. He has very good ball skills and is a threat to score if he gets the ball in his hands. He is physical and aggressive in man coverage but lacks the length and fluidity to compete against NFL-caliber tight ends and receivers.
Overall, Mustapha will make his living as a box safety where he can make plays near the line of scrimmage in the run game and as a blitzer.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Scheme Specific Contributor
Written By: Brentley Weissman
Exposures: Washington (2023), Oregon (2023), Florida (2023)
