Malik Heath Explained

Malik Heath
Number:18
Current Team:Green Bay Packers
Position:Wide receiver
Birth Date:3 March 2000
Birth Place:Canton, Mississippi, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:213
High School:Callaway
(Jackson, Mississippi)
College:Copiah–Lincoln (2018–2019)
Mississippi State (2020–2021)
Ole Miss (2022)
Undraftedyear:2023
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Receptions
Statvalue1:15
Statlabel2:Receiving yards
Statvalue2:125
Statlabel3:Receiving touchdowns
Statvalue3:1
Pfr:HeatMa00

Malik Shabazz Heath (born March 3, 2000) is an American 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 entered the 2023 NFL draft but went undrafted. He would later sign with the Packers as a undrafted free agent.

Early years

Heath grew up in Jackson, Mississippi and attended Callaway High School.[1] [2] He caught 78 passes for 1,837 yards and 13 touchdowns over the course of his high school career.[3] Heath is the son of former Jackson State University TE Harold Heath.[4]

College career

Heath began his college career at Copiah–Lincoln Community College.[5] He caught 61 passes, 835 yards, and seven touchdowns in 17 games over two seasons.[6] Heath transferred to Mississippi State following his sophomore year.[7]

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.[8] Heath caught 37 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns in his first season at Mississippi State.[9] 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.[10] He had 34 receptions for 442 yards and five touchdowns in 2021.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13]

Heath ultimately transferred to Ole Miss.[14] In his only season with the Rebels, he led the team with 60 receptions, 971 receiving yards, and five touchdown receptions.[15]

Professional career

After going undrafted at the 2023 NFL draft, Heath was signed by the Green Bay Packers on May 1, 2023.[16] On August 29, 2023, the Packers announced that Heath had made the initial 53-man roster.[17] 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, when he made his first catch (a 7-yard pass from Jordan Love) during a 23–20 win against the Los Angeles Chargers.[18] On December 11, Heath scored his first NFL touchdown on a 6-yard pass from Love during a 24–22 loss to the New York Giants.[19]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

YearTeamGamesReceivingFumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
GB13 1 15 125 8.3 16 1 0 0
Total 13 1 15 125 8.3 16 1 0 0
Source: pro-football-reference.com

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Costabile . Annie . July 10, 2017 . Callaway's Malik Heath accomplishes one of his dreams by making Dandy Dozen . October 7, 2022 . The Clarion-Ledger.
  2. Web site: Local football products producing at Ole Miss and MSU. Joe. Cook. WAPT.com. October 5, 2022. November 7, 2022.
  3. Web site: 7 Mississippi & 4 Louisiana players were among 15 who signed with Mississippi State. WLOX.com. December 20, 2017. February 9, 2023.
  4. Web site: Callaway's Malik Heath accomplishes one of his dreams by making Dandy Dozen. clarionledger.com. April 29, 2024.
  5. Web site: Maturation is key for former UA All-American WR Malik Heath while at Co-Lin. Russell. Johnson. Rivals.com. September 13, 2018. October 7, 2022.
  6. Web site: NFL Draft Profile: Malik Heath, Wide Receiver, Ole Miss Rebel. Sports Illustrated. November 16, 2022. February 9, 2023.
  7. Web site: Recruit commits to Mississippi State, says everything is 'still open'. Jack. White. USA Today. July 28, 2019. October 10, 2022.
  8. Web site: Horka . Tyler . August 13, 2020 . Mississippi State wide receiver Malik Heath arrested for speeding, DUI . December 12, 2023 . The Clarion-Ledger.
  9. Web site: Mississippi State's Malik Heath, De'Monte Russell will play N.C. State. The Clarion-Ledger. September 6, 2021. October 7, 2022.
  10. Web site: Kasabian . Paul . December 31, 2020 . Mississippi State's Malik Heath Brags on IG About Kicking Tulsa Player in Brawl . December 12, 2023 . Bleacher Report.
  11. Web site: Malik Heath car accident: Details emerge on Mississippi State receiver. The Clarion-Ledger. December 3, 2021. October 7, 2022.
  12. Web site: Schneidman . Matt . December 11, 2023 . Packers WR Malik Heath savors emergence after college turmoil, brush with death . December 12, 2023 . The Athletic.
  13. Web site: Mississippi State wide receiver Malik Heath enters transfer portal. The Commercial Dispatch. January 18, 2022. October 7, 2022.
  14. Web site: Malik Heath on Ole Miss transfer: Mississippi State cowbells too loud. The Clarion-Ledger. August 6, 2022. October 7, 2022.
  15. Web site: Ole Miss Receiver Malik Heath Posts Goodbye to Coaches. Ben. King. Sports Illustrated. December 30, 2022. February 9, 2023.
  16. Web site: Packers agree to terms with 12 rookie free agents. packers.com. May 1, 2023. May 1, 2023.
  17. News: Packers keep 6 receivers, 11 offensive linemen: Here's the initial 2023 roster. August 29, 2023. Packers.com.
  18. Web site: November 20, 2023 . Packers' Malik Heath: Makes first career catch . November 24, 2023 . CBS Sports.
  19. Web site: December 12, 2023 . Packers' Malik Heath: Hauls in first touchdown pass . December 12, 2023 . CBS Sports.