Malik Hartford, UCLA DB: the 2026 season story
Malik Hartford is a senior defensive back for UCLA (Big Ten). He ranks 475th of 1,841 defensive backs in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every defensive back on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Every measure is set against every ranked defensive back, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Malik Hartford's strongest measure is interceptions per game at 0.11, 258th of 921 (the average is 0.08). His weakest is tackles per game at 3.5, 458th of 921 (the average is 3.7).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 3.5, ranks 458th among 921 ranked defensive backs.
Against every defensive back
Why it matters. Volume, efficiency and impact plays can tell different stories: a player can be busy without being effective, or rarely used but dangerous every time. Among ranked defensive backs he sits, on average, in the 50th percentile for volume, 60th for efficiency and 65th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Consistency matters to a team: one huge game and five quiet ones is a different season from six solid ones. Over 9 games, Malik Hartford's best came in week 8 against Michigan State and his quietest in week 7 against Wisconsin.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. The shape of a player's production, not just its size, is what opponents scout.
National and conference
Why it matters. The Player Index puts every defensive back on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Malik Hartford is 330th of 921 FBS defensive backs and 55th of 111 in the Big Ten. Next up nationally is Kona Moore of Hawai'i, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Defensive backs like him
Why it matters. Players with similar profiles tend to be used the same way, which makes them a quick way to picture his game. His closest match this season is Kenny Worthy of Cincinnati.
