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Jersey Number 24
Malik Esquerra
- Position:
- Safety
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 205
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Killeen, Texas
- High School:
- Shoemaker
2025 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN)
2024 SEASON (FRESHMAN)
HIGH SCHOOL
PERSONAL
- Saw an increased role as a redshirt freshman, appearing in all 14 games either on special teams or as a reserve safety … played in at least one defensive snap in 12 different games overall as the primary backup to Cole Wisniewski … member of three special teams units as a main contributor on kickoff coverage, kickoff return and punt returns.Â
- Totaled eight tackles (5 solo), which came over four games … combined for three tackles during non-conference play with one stop in the season-opening win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (8/30) and two versus Oregon State (9/13) … saw time defensively late in blowout wins over both Oklahoma State (10/25) and UCF (11/15), delivering two tackles versus the Cowboys and then a career-high three stops against the Knights … one of his three tackles against UCF came as part of kickoff coverage.
- Credited with 139 defensive snaps by Pro Football Focus with the vast majority coming during non-conference play … reached double-digit snaps on defense in five different games - all at home versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kent State (9/6), Oregon State, Kansas (10/11) and Oklahoma State … was fifth on the team with 160 snaps on special teams, including 41 on kickoff return, which was tied for second overall.Â
2024 SEASON (FRESHMAN)
- Redshirt season … scout team member … appeared in the final two games of the season against West Virginia (11/30) and Arkansas (12/27) in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Â
- Made a tackle in each contest with one coming on defense against West Virginia … picked up valuable playing time in the win over the Mountaineers with 21 defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus … recorded his other tackle as part of kickoff coverage against the Razorbacks.
- Previously listed as the backup to C.J. Baskerville at safety for the final month of the season starting with the road trip to Iowa State (11/2).
HIGH SCHOOL
- Attended Shoemaker High School in Killeen, Texas … the Wolves advanced to the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons in 2023 under head coach Toby Foreman … Shoemaker finished 7-4 and 5-3 in District 4-5A before falling to eventual Class 5A Division I state champion Aledo, 27-6, in the first round of the playoffs.
- Named a first team All-District selection on defense as both a junior and a senior … as a senior, was the co-league leader with four interceptions with two of those returned for a touchdown ... tallied 57 tackles overall, 45 of which were solo stops, to go along with 3.0 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three pass breaks ups in addition to the four interceptions.
- Recognized as a 2023 week eight area all-star after a 42-0 win over Waco High where he scooped a blocked punt and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown ... added one of his four interceptions on the season in the shutout win as well.Â
- Logged four interceptions as a junior in addition to 68 tackles, 53 of which were solo stops, 2.0 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and one pass breakup … named to the 2023 Academic All-District team … named to the A-B honor roll and was a member of superintendent advisory council.
- Member of the Shoemaker track and field team … won the Class 5A state title in the 110-meter hurdles after running a 13.72 to cap his high school career ... the performance completed a gold-laden run to state, having won the District 22-5A meet (13.69), area meet (14.35) and the regional meet (13.81) ... also placed third in the state championship in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 37.17 ... his best times of his senior season ranked seventh in the state of Texas and 24th nationally in 110-meter hurdles (13.69) and 12th in Texas and 34th nationally in the 300-meter hurdles (37.17) ... over four seasons on the track team, was a four-time regional qualifier and finished as the owner of the school record for both the 110 and 300-meter hurdles.
- Committed to Texas Tech on July 15, 2023 … consensus three-star recruit by Rivals, ESPN, On3 and 247Sports … ranked as 247sports’ 57th-best prospect in the state of Texas and the 41st-best safety prospect in the country … listed as a top-100 prospect in the state of Texas by On3, 247Sports and Rivals ... CHOSE TEXAS TECH OVER: Nebraska, North Texas, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Texas A&M, TCU and Vanderbilt.
PERSONAL
- Malik Elijah Esquerra … born in Fort Hood, Texas … son of Tarik and Kamia Esquerra ... has three siblings in Kamari, Kai and Kira.
- A sports management major at Texas Tech.
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