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Jersey Number 43
Malik Spencer
- Position:
- DB
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-1 / 191
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Buford, Ga.
- High School:
- Buford
Career Bio (PDF)
CAREER NOTES: Four-year letterwinner played in 38 games with 29 starts at safety for the Spartans from 2022-25 . . . recorded 173 career tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss (26 yards), 2.0 sacks (21 yards), 13 pass break-ups and two interceptions . . . three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
2025 SEASON (SENIOR): Started all 12 games at safety . . . registered 52 tackles with 3.0 tackles for loss (22 yards) and 2.0 sacks (21 yards) . . . had one interception to go with five pass break-ups . . . played 674 snaps, third-most on the Spartan defense . . . Academic All-Big Ten selection . . . started against Maryland in the regular-season finale in his final collegiate game and collected seven tackles and a pass break-up while playing 70 snaps . . . was starting safety in game at Iowa, tallying three tackles and snaring first interception of season, snagging the pick on Iowa’s first play of series in first quarter, setting up MSU’s opening TD, and posted 54 defensive snaps . . . drew start in Penn State game on Senior Day and notched five tackles in charting 58 defensive snaps in final game at Spartan Stadium . . . opened game at Minnesota on field at safety, posting four tackles and adding one pass break-up, in playing 62 of the 66 defensive snaps, tying for tops among defensive backs and tied for second overall on the defense . . . was starting safety in Michigan game, registering four tackles, in charting 68 of the 69 defensive snaps, tied for second on defense . . . started in defensive backfield in game at Indiana, tallying 35 snaps, before leaving game with an injury . . . started UCLA contest and tallied four tackles, including 1.0 tackle for loss and one forced fumble, in charting a team-high 70 of the 71 defensive snaps . . . started game at Nebraska at safety and stuffed stat sheet with four tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss (7 yards) on 1.0 sack (7 yards) and added a pass break-up, in charting 53 of the 55 defensive snaps, ranking second among defensive backs and third overall on the defense . . . started USC game and shared top honors with a season-high seven tackles, and also recorded a career-high two pass break-ups for first two PBUs of the season, in playing 60 snaps, which was second both among defensive backs and overall on defense . . . opened Youngstown State game at safety, tallying two tackles in logging 37 snaps . . . started Boston College contest at safety, notching three tackles in 55 snaps, which was third among defensive backs and fifth overall on the defense . . . started season opener at safety vs. Western Michigan . . . notched five tackles including career-long 14-yard tackle for loss, coming on first career sack after forcing an intentional grounding penalty, in 52 snaps, which led defensive backs and ranked tied for second overall on defense.
2024 SEASON (JUNIOR): Started first nine games at safety, recording 44 tackles, with 1.0 TFL (2 yards), adding one interception, two pass break-ups and one forced fumble, before missing last three games with an injury . . . played in 419 snaps, ranking fourth among defensive backs and tied for fourth overall on defense at time of injury . . . named to Academic All-Big Ten Team for the second year in a row . . . played in every defensive snap in two games (Michigan and Iowa) as part of three total games (Maryland) . . . opened Indiana game in defensive backfield and posted four tackles in charting 26 snaps before leaving the game with a season-ending injury . . . not only started but played in all 52 defensive snaps at Michigan, the only defensive player to do so, registering a season-high 10 tackles, tallying double-digit stops for the second time of career as top two tackle totals have come against Michigan after career-high of 11 was vs. UM last season (10/21/23) . . . with seven solo stops, tied a career-high for solo tackles, matching seven done twice last year, vs. Iowa (9/30/23) and Indiana (11/28/23) . . . opened Iowa game at safety and tallied one tackle in playing all 48 snaps . . . started game at Oregon at safety, and snared first interception of not just season, but his career, with a pick in the end zone in the first quarter, and registered seven tackles for the second game in a row, while logging 71 of the 75 defensive snaps, leading the offense . . . was starting safety against Ohio State and tallied seven stops, adding one pass break-up, in charting 51 snaps . . . got starting nod at safety in game at Boston College, and tied for team-high honors with six tackles and recorded first career forced fumble as part of the Spartans’ goal-line stand in the fourth quarter, playing in 59 of the 60 defensive snaps, leading the defense . . . started Prairie View A&M game at defensive back, tallying three tackles and one pass break-up in posting 33 snaps . . . drew start in game at Maryland, logging five tackles in playing all 68 defensive snaps . . . started season opener vs. Florida Atlantic, tallying one tackle in playing 10 snaps.
2023 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Played in all 12 games, including eight starts at safety . . . ranked tied for second on the team with 72 tackles (41 solo, 31 assists) . . . ranked second on the team and tied for 15th in the Big Ten with six pass break-ups . . . played a total of 634 snaps on defense, third most on the team . . . his 142 appearances on special teams ranked second most on the team . . . Academic All-Big Ten honoree . . . credited with 2.0 tackles for loss (2 yards) . . . had one tackle vs. Penn State in Ford Field . . . registered nine tackles in win at Indiana, including a 1-yard TFL . . . started game at Ohio State at safety and logged five tackles and one pass break-up in registering 54 snaps . . . posted four tackles and one pass break-up in charting 50 snaps in win over Nebraska . . . drew start at safety in Minnesota game, also seeing action at linebacker, in posting six stops in charting 55 snaps . . . started Michigan game and registered first double-digit tackle outing of Spartan career with career-high 11 tackles in notching 63 snaps . . . was starting safety at Rutgers, logging 24 snaps, despite missing some time with an injury, but returned later in the game, ending with two tackles and one pass break-up . . . started game at Iowa at safety and logged team-high tying eight tackles and adding one pass break-up in playing 59 of 60 defensive snaps . . . was starting safety in Maryland game and notched nine tackles with one pass break-up and one QB hurry in playing 62 of the 67 defensive snaps . . . started Washington game and notched seven stops in playing 63 snaps . . . tallied one tackle and recorded first pass break-up of Spartan career after starting Richmond game, and matched jersey by playing 43 snaps . . . made first start of Spartan career in the season opener vs. Central Michigan, logging nine tackles, ranking second on team, with first tackle for loss (1 yard) of MSU career, in playing 68 of the 69 defensive snaps.
2022 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Played in the final five games of the season to earn his first letter . . . saw action on 56 snaps on defense at safety . . . played 57 snaps on special teams . . . recorded five tackles (one solo, four assists) . . . played 10 snaps on defense and 11 on special teams in regular-season finale at Penn State . . . made a season-high three tackles while seeing time on the field for 27 plays vs. Indiana (11 on defense, 16 on special teams) . . . played a season-high 26 snaps at safety vs. Rutgers; had one assisted tackle against the Scarlet Knights . . . saw action for 20 plays (nine on defense, 11 on special teams) and had one assisted tackle in win at No. 16 Illinois . . . was on the field for 10 special teams plays in his collegiate debut at Michigan . . . missed the first seven games of the season with an injury.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Rated one of the best overall safeties in the country by Rivals.com (No. 44), 247Sports (No. 58) and ESPN.com (No. 60) . . . listed among the top overall prospects in the state of Georgia by Rivals.com (No. 50), On3 (No. 66) and 247Sports (No. 66) . . . named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Class 6A All-State First Team as a senior in 2021 . . . named to the Georgia “Power 100” as one of the best players in the state of Georgia by the Georgia High School Football Daily . . . played linebacker at Buford High School and was named one of the best LBs in the state of Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . also played wide receiver at Buford . . . helped lead Buford High School to its third consecutive Class 6A state championship as a senior and a 14-1 overall record . . . also a member of the 2019 (14-1 record) and 2020 (13-1 record) state championship teams . . . played for Coach Bryant Appling . . . tallied 45 tackles, 11 TFLs, six sacks and two interceptions as a junior in 2020 to earn all-region accolades and second-team All-Gwinnett County honors . . . son of Block Spencer and Nekeisha Crenshaw . . . human resources & labor relations major.
CAREER NOTES: Four-year letterwinner played in 38 games with 29 starts at safety for the Spartans from 2022-25 . . . recorded 173 career tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss (26 yards), 2.0 sacks (21 yards), 13 pass break-ups and two interceptions . . . three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
2025 SEASON (SENIOR): Started all 12 games at safety . . . registered 52 tackles with 3.0 tackles for loss (22 yards) and 2.0 sacks (21 yards) . . . had one interception to go with five pass break-ups . . . played 674 snaps, third-most on the Spartan defense . . . Academic All-Big Ten selection . . . started against Maryland in the regular-season finale in his final collegiate game and collected seven tackles and a pass break-up while playing 70 snaps . . . was starting safety in game at Iowa, tallying three tackles and snaring first interception of season, snagging the pick on Iowa’s first play of series in first quarter, setting up MSU’s opening TD, and posted 54 defensive snaps . . . drew start in Penn State game on Senior Day and notched five tackles in charting 58 defensive snaps in final game at Spartan Stadium . . . opened game at Minnesota on field at safety, posting four tackles and adding one pass break-up, in playing 62 of the 66 defensive snaps, tying for tops among defensive backs and tied for second overall on the defense . . . was starting safety in Michigan game, registering four tackles, in charting 68 of the 69 defensive snaps, tied for second on defense . . . started in defensive backfield in game at Indiana, tallying 35 snaps, before leaving game with an injury . . . started UCLA contest and tallied four tackles, including 1.0 tackle for loss and one forced fumble, in charting a team-high 70 of the 71 defensive snaps . . . started game at Nebraska at safety and stuffed stat sheet with four tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss (7 yards) on 1.0 sack (7 yards) and added a pass break-up, in charting 53 of the 55 defensive snaps, ranking second among defensive backs and third overall on the defense . . . started USC game and shared top honors with a season-high seven tackles, and also recorded a career-high two pass break-ups for first two PBUs of the season, in playing 60 snaps, which was second both among defensive backs and overall on defense . . . opened Youngstown State game at safety, tallying two tackles in logging 37 snaps . . . started Boston College contest at safety, notching three tackles in 55 snaps, which was third among defensive backs and fifth overall on the defense . . . started season opener at safety vs. Western Michigan . . . notched five tackles including career-long 14-yard tackle for loss, coming on first career sack after forcing an intentional grounding penalty, in 52 snaps, which led defensive backs and ranked tied for second overall on defense.
2024 SEASON (JUNIOR): Started first nine games at safety, recording 44 tackles, with 1.0 TFL (2 yards), adding one interception, two pass break-ups and one forced fumble, before missing last three games with an injury . . . played in 419 snaps, ranking fourth among defensive backs and tied for fourth overall on defense at time of injury . . . named to Academic All-Big Ten Team for the second year in a row . . . played in every defensive snap in two games (Michigan and Iowa) as part of three total games (Maryland) . . . opened Indiana game in defensive backfield and posted four tackles in charting 26 snaps before leaving the game with a season-ending injury . . . not only started but played in all 52 defensive snaps at Michigan, the only defensive player to do so, registering a season-high 10 tackles, tallying double-digit stops for the second time of career as top two tackle totals have come against Michigan after career-high of 11 was vs. UM last season (10/21/23) . . . with seven solo stops, tied a career-high for solo tackles, matching seven done twice last year, vs. Iowa (9/30/23) and Indiana (11/28/23) . . . opened Iowa game at safety and tallied one tackle in playing all 48 snaps . . . started game at Oregon at safety, and snared first interception of not just season, but his career, with a pick in the end zone in the first quarter, and registered seven tackles for the second game in a row, while logging 71 of the 75 defensive snaps, leading the offense . . . was starting safety against Ohio State and tallied seven stops, adding one pass break-up, in charting 51 snaps . . . got starting nod at safety in game at Boston College, and tied for team-high honors with six tackles and recorded first career forced fumble as part of the Spartans’ goal-line stand in the fourth quarter, playing in 59 of the 60 defensive snaps, leading the defense . . . started Prairie View A&M game at defensive back, tallying three tackles and one pass break-up in posting 33 snaps . . . drew start in game at Maryland, logging five tackles in playing all 68 defensive snaps . . . started season opener vs. Florida Atlantic, tallying one tackle in playing 10 snaps.
2023 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Played in all 12 games, including eight starts at safety . . . ranked tied for second on the team with 72 tackles (41 solo, 31 assists) . . . ranked second on the team and tied for 15th in the Big Ten with six pass break-ups . . . played a total of 634 snaps on defense, third most on the team . . . his 142 appearances on special teams ranked second most on the team . . . Academic All-Big Ten honoree . . . credited with 2.0 tackles for loss (2 yards) . . . had one tackle vs. Penn State in Ford Field . . . registered nine tackles in win at Indiana, including a 1-yard TFL . . . started game at Ohio State at safety and logged five tackles and one pass break-up in registering 54 snaps . . . posted four tackles and one pass break-up in charting 50 snaps in win over Nebraska . . . drew start at safety in Minnesota game, also seeing action at linebacker, in posting six stops in charting 55 snaps . . . started Michigan game and registered first double-digit tackle outing of Spartan career with career-high 11 tackles in notching 63 snaps . . . was starting safety at Rutgers, logging 24 snaps, despite missing some time with an injury, but returned later in the game, ending with two tackles and one pass break-up . . . started game at Iowa at safety and logged team-high tying eight tackles and adding one pass break-up in playing 59 of 60 defensive snaps . . . was starting safety in Maryland game and notched nine tackles with one pass break-up and one QB hurry in playing 62 of the 67 defensive snaps . . . started Washington game and notched seven stops in playing 63 snaps . . . tallied one tackle and recorded first pass break-up of Spartan career after starting Richmond game, and matched jersey by playing 43 snaps . . . made first start of Spartan career in the season opener vs. Central Michigan, logging nine tackles, ranking second on team, with first tackle for loss (1 yard) of MSU career, in playing 68 of the 69 defensive snaps.
2022 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Played in the final five games of the season to earn his first letter . . . saw action on 56 snaps on defense at safety . . . played 57 snaps on special teams . . . recorded five tackles (one solo, four assists) . . . played 10 snaps on defense and 11 on special teams in regular-season finale at Penn State . . . made a season-high three tackles while seeing time on the field for 27 plays vs. Indiana (11 on defense, 16 on special teams) . . . played a season-high 26 snaps at safety vs. Rutgers; had one assisted tackle against the Scarlet Knights . . . saw action for 20 plays (nine on defense, 11 on special teams) and had one assisted tackle in win at No. 16 Illinois . . . was on the field for 10 special teams plays in his collegiate debut at Michigan . . . missed the first seven games of the season with an injury.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Rated one of the best overall safeties in the country by Rivals.com (No. 44), 247Sports (No. 58) and ESPN.com (No. 60) . . . listed among the top overall prospects in the state of Georgia by Rivals.com (No. 50), On3 (No. 66) and 247Sports (No. 66) . . . named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Class 6A All-State First Team as a senior in 2021 . . . named to the Georgia “Power 100” as one of the best players in the state of Georgia by the Georgia High School Football Daily . . . played linebacker at Buford High School and was named one of the best LBs in the state of Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . also played wide receiver at Buford . . . helped lead Buford High School to its third consecutive Class 6A state championship as a senior and a 14-1 overall record . . . also a member of the 2019 (14-1 record) and 2020 (13-1 record) state championship teams . . . played for Coach Bryant Appling . . . tallied 45 tackles, 11 TFLs, six sacks and two interceptions as a junior in 2020 to earn all-region accolades and second-team All-Gwinnett County honors . . . son of Block Spencer and Nekeisha Crenshaw . . . human resources & labor relations major.
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