UCLA hauls in commitment from Ohio State safety Malik Hartford
Malik Hartford became the 40th transfer commitment of the cycle for UCLA on Tuesday evening. The Ohio State safety has announced his commitment and now joins the Bruins after three seasons with the Buckeyes. He played in four games this season and collected 2 tackles. He will use the 2025 season as a redshirt year giving him two seasons of eligibility with the Bruins.
The West Chester, Ohio native played in 13 games in 2024 and has now appeared in 26 contests across three seasons. He heads to UCLA with 20 career tackles plus three passes defended.
Hartford was a highly touted recruit out of Lakota West HS in the 2023 class. He was a consensus four-star prospect who was rated No. 132 overall in the Rivals Industry Rankings and the 11th-rated safety in his senior season.
Michigan, Notre Dame, Alabama, Nebraska, Penn State and Tennessee were some of the schools that offered Hartford as a high school recruit.
Hartford will look to ignite career at UCLA
An injury impacted Hartford’s junior season in Columbus resulting in the 6-foot-2, 200-pound defensive back playing in just four games. He has been part of a loaded secondary during his career with the Buckeyes. The move to UCLA will give Hartford an opportunity for a fresh start under Bob Chesney‘s staff.
The new Bruins’ safety was in line to be a bigger contributor in 2025 after making his biggest impact as a sophomore. He had a pair of two-tackle games against Iowa and Purdue in the 2024 season.
Bruins continue to revamp secondary
Hartford is the sixth commitment who will be making the move within the Big Ten. He is the second Ohio State player to transfer to UCLA in the cycle. Former Buckeyes defensive lineman Maxwell Roy gave the Bruins his pledge earlier this week.
Hartford will join a secondary with the Bruins that has been rebuilt by the new coaching staff.
He is the third safety to be added through the portal by UCLA since the window opened on Jan. 2. Tao Johnson (Utah) and Ta’Shawn James (Iowa State) previously committed to the Bruins. The team is also returning several defensive backs including Cole Martin and Scooter Jackson.
