Honors & Awards
» Academic All-Big Ten (2023)
» Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2022)
» Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2023)
2023 (Sophomore)
Malcolm Hartzog played in all 12 games with 10 starts as a sophomore. He made seven starts at cornerback and three starts at safety. Hartzog set career highs with 40 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and six pass breakups. He was a key member of a Blackshirt unit that posted Nebraska's best rushing defense (92.9 yards per game), total defense (303.5 yards per game) and scoring defense (18.3 points per game) since the Huskers joined the Big Ten in 2011. NU ranked in the top 20 nationally in each of those three categories.
Hartzog made four tackles at Minnesota while tying his career highs in tackles for loss (1.0) and pass breakups (1). Hartzog had a career high six tackles at Colorado. He recorded four tackles against Northern Illinois. Hartzog made two tackles against Louisiana Tech - including a half tackle for loss - and he also broke up a pass. Against Michigan, Hartzog had four tackles and one pass breakup. He started at safety at Illinois and again had four tackles and a breakup. Hartzog again started at safety against Northwestern and finished with five tackles and one pass breakup, his fourth consecutive game with a breakup. He started at cornerback against Purdue and made two tackles. Hartzog started at safety at Michigan State and totaled four solo tackles and one pass breakup. Hartzog started at corner against Maryland and recorded three solo tackles. He had two tackles against Iowa, when the Huskers held the Hawkeyes to 94 passing yards.
2022 (Freshman)
Hartzog played in every game as a true freshman with eight starts. He led Nebraska with three interceptions while totaling 22 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and two pass breakups.
Hartzog played on special teams in the first three games before making his debut on defense against No. 6 Oklahoma. Hartzog earned the start at cornerback against Indiana, becoming NU’s first true freshman to start at corner since 2016. Hartzog broke up a pass against the Hoosiers and returned a blocked punt 30 yards for a touchdown.
At Rutgers, Hartzog posted three career tackles and intercepted a pass on Rutgers’ final offensive play. He posted an identical stat line the next week at Purdue with three more tackles and another interception.
Against Illinois, Hartzog had four tackles. He matched that career high with four more tackles the next week against Minnesota. He made three tackles at No. 3 Michigan with a pass breakup. Hartzog had four tackles, 1.0 TFL and an interception that set up a touchdown against Wisconsin. In the season-ending win at Iowa, Hartzog recorded one tackle while helping limit Iowa to 150 passing yards.
Before Nebraska (Jefferson Davis County HS)
Hartzog was the first Mississippi native to sign with Nebraska since Byerson Cockrell in 2014 and was the Huskers’ first scholarship recruit from the Mississippi high school ranks since Brandon Jackson in 2004. Hartzog was a standout on offense, defense and special teams for Jefferson Davis County High School.
Hartzog helped the Jaguars to a state championship as a senior, when he was named Class 3A Mr. Football. A cornerback, running back and returner, he rushed for 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the state final and also had an interception and a pass breakup. On the season, Hartzog had more than 10 passes defended from his cornerback position. He also rushed for more than 1,200 yards and accounted for 44 total touchdowns, including 30 rushing touchdowns, three receiving scores and 11 combined kickoff and punt return touchdowns.
Hartzog was regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports, and he was the MVP of the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star game after recording nine tackles and an interception. He chose Nebraska after also considering Ole Miss, South Alabama and Southern Miss.
Personal
Malcolm was born on Dec. 17, 2003, and he is the son of Cecile Herrion-Oatis and Derrick Oatis. He is majoring in business administration. He has volunteered his time with the Nebraska Football Road Race, local Thanksgiving hospital visits and the Huskers’ Day of Service.