2023 defensive back Malik Hartford names top 7 schools
West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West defensive back Malik Hartford is down to seven schools, he announced Friday morning.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pounder included Cincinnati, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State and West Virginia in that list, and he teased that he will cut down to three schools soon.
He is currently unranked per the On3 Consensus – a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. But that is likely to change soon. In addition to his seven finalists, Hartford held offers from Tennessee, Northwestern, Indiana, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Purdue, Nebraska and Duke.
During his junior season, Hartford posted 58 tackles, two interceptions, one sack and six blocked kicks. He was a first-team all conference performer and was listed on the second-team all-region.
Ohio State is one of the most recent additions to his offer list, with new defensive backs coach Perry Eliano extending an offer three weeks ago. Hartford told Lettermen Row that adding one from the in-state Buckeyes was a “surreal” experience.
“[Saturday] was definitely a surreal experience,” Malik Hartford said. “I grew up wanting to play at the highest level in college football and Ohio State is the highest level. … They’re a top-three program and it’s definitely exciting to have the chance to play there.”