Lakota West’s Hartford commits to Ohio State
Lakota West junior Malik Hartford, a 6-foot-3-inch, 180-pound safety has announced he intends to play college football at Ohio State.
Finalists for Hartford's services also included Cincinnati, Michigan, Michigan State and Notre Dame. Late in the game, Penn State and Alabama extended scholarship offers.
"It was definitely difficult because I made relationships with all of the coaches," Hartford said. "It really came down to just the program and the school itself, things that are going to stay and aren't going to leave. Coaches come and go."
Hartford is a 4.2 student on a weighted GPA system at Lakota West, and his parents are both engineers. He said his commitment was as much about off-the-field benefits as on because football will eventually come to an end.
"He's a great kid with a great family," Lakota West head coach Tom Bolden said. "On the football field, he is violent. He covers so much ground, so quick. (He's) a special teams nightmare. If you haven't seen his highlight film, everything just pops."
The website 247Sports.com lists Hartford as a four-star recruit, the No. 2 junior in his class as well as the No. 5 safety in the nation. He had 58 tackles this past season, a quarterback sack and two interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown.
He follows in the footsteps of former Firebirds corner Jyaire Brown, who reported to the Buckeyes in January.
Offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola of Lakota West will also head to Ohio State. The future Buckeye lineman attended Hartford's announcement.
Overall, Hartford had 25 Division I offers, and he's been invited to play in the 2023 All-american Bowl next January.