Malcolm Hartzog Jr. Season 2024

Honors & Awards
» 2022-23 Nebraska Male Freshman Athlete of the Year
» Big Ten Freshman of the Week (vs. Indiana, 2022)
» Academic All-Big Ten (2023)
» Two-Time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll
» Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2023)
» Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2023, 2024)

2024 (Junior)
After a switch from cornerback to safety, Malcolm Hartzog Jr. has started every game this season with seven starts at safety and one start at cornerback. He leads Nebraska with four interceptions - the most by a Husker since the 2015 season - while totaling 27 tackles and three pass breakups. Entering the UCLA game, Hartzog is tied for fifth nationally in interceptions.

Against UTEP, Hartzog tied for the team lead with five tackles and intercepted the fourth pass of his career. Hartzog recorded three tackles and broke up a pass against Colorado. He intercepted his second pass of the season against Northern Iowa and added two tackles against the Panthers. Hartzog had four tackles against Illinois. He recorded four solo tackles and one pass breakup at Purdue. Hartzog finished with four tackles against Rutgers, including stopping a fake field goal attempt along with Ceyair Wright. Hartzog had three tackles at Indiana with one interception and one pass breakup.

Hartzog is wearing the No. 7 after he was one of 10 Huskers to win a team vote to wear a single-digit number.

2023 (Sophomore)
Hartzog played in all 12 games with 10 starts as a sophomore, with seven starts at cornerback and three 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 at least four tackles in seven games.

Hartzog made four tackles at Minnesota in the opener and tied 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. Against Michigan, Hartzog had four tackles and a 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. 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 stops. 

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 his first 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 advertising and public relations and was a 2023 Academic All-Big Ten selection.