Malik Heath
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Malik Heath
| image =
| number = 18
| current_team = Green Bay Packers
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|3|31}}
| birth_place = Canton, Mississippi, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 213
| high_school = Callaway
(Jackson, Mississippi)
| college = Copiah–Lincoln CC (2018–2019)
Mississippi State (2020–2021)
Ole Miss (2022)
| undraftedyear = 2023
| pastteams =
- Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)
| status = Active
| statweek = 18
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 25
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 222
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 3
| pfr = HeatMa00
}}
Malik Shabazz Heath (born March 3, 2000) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Copiah–Lincoln, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. He was signed by the Packers as an undrafted free agent.
Early life
Heath grew up in Jackson, Mississippi and attended Callaway High School.{{Cite web |last=Costabile |first=Annie |date=July 10, 2017 |title=Callaway's Malik Heath accomplishes one of his dreams by making Dandy Dozen |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/07/10/meet-fourth-member-2017-dandy-dozen/463420001/ |access-date=October 7, 2022 |website=The Clarion-Ledger}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wapt.com/article/local-football-products-producing-at-ole-miss-and-msu-10-05/41537687|title=Local football products producing at Ole Miss and MSU|first=Joe|last=Cook|website=WAPT.com|date=October 5, 2022|access-date=November 7, 2022}} He caught 78 passes for 1,837 yards and 13 touchdowns over the course of his high school career.{{cite web|url=https://www.wlox.com/story/37114581/7-mississippi-4-louisiana-players-were-among-15-who-signed-with-mississippi-state/|title=7 Mississippi & 4 Louisiana players were among 15 who signed with Mississippi State|website=WLOX.com|date=December 20, 2017|access-date=February 9, 2023}} Heath is the son of former Jackson State University TE Harold Heath.{{cite web|url=https://eu.clarionledger.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/07/10/meet-fourth-member-2017-dandy-dozen/463420001/|title=Callaway's Malik Heath accomplishes one of his dreams by making Dandy Dozen|website=clarionledger.com|access-date=April 29, 2024}}
College career
Heath began his college career at Copiah–Lincoln Community College.{{cite web|url=https://olemiss.rivals.com/news/maturation-is-key-for-former-ua-all-american-wr-malik-heath-while-at-co-lin|title=Maturation is key for former UA All-American WR Malik Heath while at Co-Lin|first=Russell|last=Johnson|website=Rivals.com|date=September 13, 2018|access-date=October 7, 2022}} He caught 61 passes, 835 yards, and seven touchdowns in 17 games over two seasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/malikheath|title=NFL Draft Profile: Malik Heath, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss Rebel|website=Sports Illustrated|date=November 16, 2022|access-date=February 9, 2023}} Heath transferred to Mississippi State following his sophomore year.{{cite web|url=https://usatodayhss.com/2019/recruit-commits-to-mississippi-state-says-everything-is-still-open|title=Recruit commits to Mississippi State, says everything is 'still open'|first=Jack|last=White|work=USA Today|date=July 28, 2019|access-date=October 10, 2022}}
On August 12, 2020, before playing for Mississippi State, Heath was charged with speeding, driving under the influence, and driving without a license, equipment, or insurance.{{Cite web |last=Horka |first=Tyler |date=August 13, 2020 |title=Mississippi State wide receiver Malik Heath arrested for speeding, DUI |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2020/08/13/mississippi-state-wide-receiver-malik-heath-arrested-speeding-dui-coach-mike-leach-college-football/3361253001/ |access-date=December 12, 2023 |website=The Clarion-Ledger}} Heath caught 37 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns in his first season at Mississippi State.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2021/09/06/mississippi-state-malik-heath-demonte-russell-play-vs-n-c-state/5718010001/|title=Mississippi State's Malik Heath, De'Monte Russell will play N.C. State|work=The Clarion-Ledger|date=September 6, 2021|access-date=October 7, 2022}} During the 2020 Armed Forces Bowl, he was involved in a brawl which included him kicking Tulsa defensive back TieNeal Martin who was on the ground. Following the game, Heath had bragged about it on social media and received backlash for the incident.{{Cite web |last=Kasabian |first=Paul |date=December 31, 2020 |title=Mississippi State's Malik Heath Brags on IG About Kicking Tulsa Player in Brawl |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2924931-mississippi-states-malik-heath-brags-on-ig-about-kicking-tulsa-player-in-brawl |access-date=December 12, 2023 |website=Bleacher Report}} He had 34 receptions for 442 yards and five touchdowns in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2021/12/03/details-emerge-crash-hospitalized-mississippi-states-malik-heath/8858891002/|title=Malik Heath car accident: Details emerge on Mississippi State receiver|work=The Clarion-Ledger|date=December 3, 2021|access-date=October 7, 2022}} On December 2, 2021, Heath was involved in a car crash in Mississippi, suffered a double lung collapse, a ruptured liver, and broke his entire rib cage. Heath was airlifted to Memphis, Tennessee, and underwent emergency surgery to save his life.{{Cite web |last=Schneidman |first=Matt |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Packers WR Malik Heath savors emergence after college turmoil, brush with death |url=https://theathletic.com/5124588/2023/12/11/malik-heath-packers-rookie-receiver/ |access-date=December 12, 2023 |website=The Athletic}} This ended his season, being unavailable to play in the 2021 Liberty Bowl. After the end of the season, Heath entered the NCAA transfer portal.{{cite web|url=https://cdispatch.com/sports/2022-01-18/mississippi-state-wide-receiver-malik-heath-enters-transfer-portal/|title=Mississippi State wide receiver Malik Heath enters transfer portal|work=The Commercial Dispatch|date=January 18, 2022|access-date=October 7, 2022}}
Heath ultimately transferred to Ole Miss.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2022/08/06/malik-heath-ole-miss-football-mississippi-state-lane-kiffin-cowbells/10252223002/|title=Malik Heath on Ole Miss transfer: Mississippi State cowbells too loud|work=The Clarion-Ledger|date=August 6, 2022|access-date=October 7, 2022}} In his only season with the Rebels, he led the team with 60 receptions, 971 receiving yards, and five touchdown receptions.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/olemiss/football/ole-miss-rebels-receiver-malik-heath-social-media-goodbye-post|title=Ole Miss Receiver Malik Heath Posts Goodbye to Coaches|first=Ben|last=King|website=Sports Illustrated|date=December 30, 2022|access-date=February 9, 2023}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 3/8
| weight = 213
| dash = 4.64
| ten split = 1.53
| twenty split = 2.64
| shuttle = 4.46
| cone drill = 6.96
| vertical = 34.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 4
| bench = 12
| arm span = 32 1/2
| hand span = 9 1/8
| note = Sources:{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/malik-heath/32004845-4175-9997-f6a4-fd7ed5c9d90c |title=Malik Heath Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=May 7, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1051692&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Malik Heath College Football Profile |access-date=May 7, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
After going undrafted at the 2023 NFL draft, Heath was signed by the Green Bay Packers on May 1, 2023.{{cite web|title=Packers agree to terms with 12 rookie free agents|url=https://www.packers.com/news/packers-agree-to-terms-with-12-rookie-free-agents-2023|website=packers.com|access-date=May 1, 2023|date=May 1, 2023}} On August 29, 2023, the Packers announced that Heath had made the initial 53-man roster.{{cite news|title=Packers keep 6 receivers, 11 offensive linemen: Here's the initial 2023 roster|url=https://www.packers.com/news/here-is-the-2023-green-bay-packers-initial-53-man-roster|date=August 29, 2023|website=Packers.com}} He made his NFL debut on September 10, 2023, during a 38–20 win against the Chicago Bears, but recorded no statistics until November 19, 2023, when he made his first catch (a 7-yard pass from Jordan Love) during a 23–20 win against the Los Angeles Chargers.{{Cite web |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Packers' Malik Heath: Makes first career catch |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/packers-malik-heath-makes-first-career-catch/amp/ |access-date=November 24, 2023 |website=CBS Sports}} On December 11, 2023, Heath scored his first NFL touchdown on a 6-yard pass from Love during a 22–24 loss to the New York Giants.{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2023 |title=Packers' Malik Heath: Hauls in first touchdown pass |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/packers-malik-heath-hauls-in-first-touchdown-pass/ |access-date=December 12, 2023 |website=CBS Sports}}
NFL career statistics
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! rowspan="2" |Year ! rowspan="2" |Team ! colspan="2" |Games ! colspan="5" |Receiving ! colspan="2" |Fumbles | ||||||||
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | GB
| 13 || 1 || 15 || 125 || 8.3 || 16 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||
| 2024 | GB
| 13 || 1 || 10 || 97 || 9.7 || 41 || 2 || 0 || 0 | |||||||
| colspan="2" |Total || 26 || 2 || 25 || 222 || 8.9 || 41 || 3 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||
| colspan="11"|Source: [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HeatMa00.htm pro-football-reference.com] |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{footballstats|yahoo=40445}}
- [https://www.packers.com/team/players-roster/malik-heath/ Green Bay Packers bio]
- [https://www.colinathletics.com/sports/fball/2019-20/bios/heath_malik_4692 Co–Lin Wolf Pack bio]
- [https://hailstate.com/sports/football/roster/malik-heath/6049 Mississippi State Bulldogs bio]
- [https://olemisssports.com/sports/football/roster/malik-heath/4243 Ole Miss Rebels bio]
{{Green Bay Packers roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heath, Malik}}
Category:Players of American football from Mississippi
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Ole Miss Rebels football players
Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs football players
Category:Green Bay Packers players