Malik Spencer S Michigan State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Malik Spencer S Michigan State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 time: 4.50 seconds (73%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Age: 21.3 DOB: 09/05/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
|
ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | |
Draft Year: 2025 | |
40 time: 4.50 seconds (73%*) | |
Age: 21.3 DOB: 09/05/2003 | |
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
|
Overall Rating: | 73.8 / 100 | |
---|---|---|
Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
Offense Rating: |
|
80% |
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
QB Rating When targeted: | 116.1 | |
Tackling: |
|
80% |
Run Defense: |
|
78% |
Coverage: |
|
57% |
Zone: |
|
50% |
Man/Press: |
|
57% |
DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#380
Position rank:
#67
|
||
College Games: 25 College Snaps: 1109 | ||
|
||
|
||
|
Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
---|---|---|
Damar Hamlin - Pittsburgh |
|
81% |
Evan Fields - Arizona State |
|
73% |
Jay Ward - LSU |
|
70% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Malik Spencer solidified his role in Michigan State's secondary during the 2023 season. The 6'1", 195-pound defensive back started 8 games at safety, recording 72 tackles and 6 pass breakups. Spencer's path to East Lansing began at Buford High School in Georgia, where he showcased his versatility, contributing at linebacker and wide receiver while helping lead his team to three consecutive state championships.A three-star recruit out of high school, Spencer was rated among the top safeties in the country by major recruiting services. He saw limited action as a freshman in 2022, appearing in just five games due to injury. However, Spencer's sophomore campaign in 2023 marked a significant leap forward, as he ranked second on the team in tackles and pass breakups while logging over 600 defensive snaps.
Spencer's athletic background and positional flexibility have been evident throughout his career. At Buford High, he excelled as both a linebacker and receiver, demonstrating his ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Versatile chess piece in the secondary, capable of lining up at multiple spots and contributing in various defensive packages and schemes
- Boasts above-average size and length for the cornerback position, providing matchup advantages against bigger receivers and tight ends
- Displays natural instincts as a run supporter, consistently flowing to the action and wrapping up ball carriers with textbook form
- Shows innate feel for zone coverage, demonstrating the ability to read quarterback progressions and break on the ball effectively
- Quick play recognition skills, likely developed from his experience playing multiple positions at the high school level
- Frame and skill set suggest potential to transition to a hybrid safety/linebacker role, offering scheme flexibility at the next level
- Brings valuable special teams experience and willingness to contribute in that phase, enhancing his day-one value to NFL rosters
- Demonstrates impressive motor and endurance, logging significant snaps on both defense and special teams throughout the 2023 season
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks ideal long speed for the cornerback position, potentially limiting his ability to recover against vertical threats at the next level
- Limited experience as a full-time starter, with only one season of significant playing time against high-level competition under his belt
- May struggle to mirror and match quicker receivers in man-to-man coverage due to average change of direction skills and hip fluidity
- Needs to refine his technique and situational awareness in deep coverage assignments to avoid getting caught out of position
- Could benefit from adding more functional strength to his frame to better shed blocks and maintain leverage against NFL-caliber opponents
Scouting Report: Summary
In the pro game, Spencer profiles as a versatile defensive back with the potential to contribute in multiple roles. His combination of size, tackling ability, and coverage skills make him an intriguing developmental prospect for teams employing hybrid defensive schemes. Defensive coordinators will value his positional flexibility and experience at both safety and cornerback.At the next level, Spencer's skill set translates best to a strong safety or box defender role with the ability to contribute in sub-packages. His aptitude in run support and playmaking ability in zone coverage suggest he could thrive in a system that utilizes safeties in multiple ways. Teams running zone-heavy schemes or those that frequently deploy big nickel packages could view Spencer as a valuable depth piece with possible starter upside.
To maximize his draft stock, Spencer will need to showcase improved man coverage skills and leverage his versatility during his junior season and pre-draft process. His special teams acumen provides immediate value while he develops into a defensive role, potentially making him an attractive mid to late-round target.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
How other scouting services rate Malik Spencer (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
492.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
77.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.