Malik Verdon

Photo by: Jeff Spaur

Photo by: Jeff Spaur

Beau Freyler, Malik Verdon vs North Dakota (2024)

Photo by: Jeff Spaur

Position:
Defensive Back
Height:
6-4
Weight:
220
Class:
Redshirt Junior
Hometown:
Cincinnati, Ohio
High School:
Hamilton

Awards & Honors
Second Team All-Big 12 DB - Coaches (2024)
Honorable Mention All-Big 12 (2023)
Academic All-Big 12 Second Team (2022, 2023)
Big 12 Academic All-Rookie Team (2022)
Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (S22, S23, F23)

2024
Played in 12 games and earned Second Team All-Big 12 accolades ... was second on the team with 76 tackles, 3.5 for a loss ... had one sack, one interception, two forced fumbles and five pass breakups .. reached double-digit tackles in four games ... ranked among Big 12's top-20 averaging 6.3 tackles per game ... had a career-high 13 tackles in rivalry win at Iowa ... intercepted a pass and returned it 38 yards against Arkansas State ... forced first career fumble in shutout against Houston and forced another against Cincinnati ... had 12 tackles and a sack against Utah ... also reached double-digit tackles against West Virginia (10) and UCF (11) ... declared for NFL Draft following his redshirt junior season ... finished his career having played in 27 games, compiling 134 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss ... had three career interceptions, 10 pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

2023
Saw action in 10 games, starting nine ... missed the final three games of season due to injury ... finished fourth on team with 47 tackles, including 0.5 for a loss ... had two interceptions and four pass breakups ... picked off passes against TCU and Baylor ... had 10 tackles to go along with two PBUs against Texas ... finished with eight tackles against TCU.

2022
Played in three games, starting two, before injury shortened his season ... had 11 tackles and one pass breakup ... notched six tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, against Baylor ... had four tackles against Ohio.

2021
Played in two games before securing a redshirt.

High School
Chose Iowa State over Pittsburgh, Iowa and Washington State among others … three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals … listed as the 12th-best athlete nationally by Rivals and the 12th-best player overall in Ohio … top-60 athlete nationally by 247Sports … played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back … played senior year at Hamilton after competing at Moeller as a sophomore and junior … all-conference selection and all-city selection at defensive back … tallied 40 tackles and two interceptions on defense … ran for 365 yards and five touchdowns and threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns … also a standout basketball player, shooting over 68.0 percent from the field as a junior … coached by Nate Mahon.

Personal
Majoring in liberal studies.