DeAngelo Malone

DeAngelo Malone is an American college football outside linebacker for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

DeAngelo Malone
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – No. 10
PositionOutside linebacker
ClassSenior
Career history
CollegeWestern Kentucky (2017–present)
High schoolCedar Grove
(Ellenwood, Georgia)
Personal information
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career highlights and awards
  • Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year (2019)
  • 2× First team All-Conference USA (2019, 2020)

Early life and high school

Malone grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and originally attended Martin Luther King Jr. High School before transferring to Cedar Grove High School.[1] He recorded 49 tackles with eight tackles for loss and was named first team All-State and All-Metro by the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as Cedar Grove won the AAA state championship.[2] Rated a three-star recruit, Malone committed to play college football at Western Kentucky over an offer from Buffalo.[3]

College career

Malone became a starter for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during his freshman year and recorded 25 tackles, 1.5 sacks and five quarterback hurries.[3] As a sophomore, he was named honorable mention All-Conference USA after finishing the season with 60 tackles, nine tackles for loss, six sacks, and eight quarterback hurries with two forced fumbles.[4] In his junior season, Malone made 99 total tackles and was fourth in the nation with tackles 21 for loss and 12th in the nation with 11.5 sacks and also had 16 quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. He was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-Conference USA.[5]

Malone considered entering the 2020 NFL Draft, but ultimately decided to return for his senior year.[6] Malone entered senior season on the Chuck Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy watchlists and was named the preseason Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and as one of the top five outside linebacker prospects for the 2021 NFL draft according to ESPN.[7][8][9][10]

References
  1. "Local Dekalb County athletes lead football teams to success in bowl season". Marietta Daily Journal. January 2, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  2. "Class AAA players in college football: Cedar Grove leads with 32". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. January 7, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  3. "Hilltopper DE Malone coming off career game". The Daily News. September 20, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  4. "WKU's Malone stands apart as one of nation's top defensive linemen". The Daily News. October 2, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  5. "PICK YOUR POISON: Malone, Jones providing leadership on Tops defense". The Daily News. September 11, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  6. Johnson, Teran (January 5, 2020). "Hilltoppers DE DeAngelo Malone Returning for Senior Year". WNKY.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  7. Brown, James (July 13, 2020). "DeAngelo Malone makes 2020 Bednarik watch list". ESPNRadio1061.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  8. Brugler, Dane (September 23, 2020). "Meet the Prospect: DeAngelo Malone's special athleticism drawing NFL eyes". The Athletic. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  9. "WKU's Malone among nation's best DEs in 2020". Messenger-Inquirer. July 25, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  10. McShay, Todd (August 26, 2020). "2021 NFL draft rankings: Todd McShay's preseason top 50 prospects in the class, plus position ranks". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
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