Dominant Force
Malik Hutchings Has Extra Motivation
Photo courtesy of Malik Hutchings
By Chris Jackson Friday October 4, 2013
ANTIOCH, CA-Rarely do first year varsity players get college offers, but Deer
Valley senior linebacker Malik Hutchings has gotten multiple division one offers
in his first year of high school football.
Malik has overcome the odds. Even though he had never played a down of high school
football before this season, he worked out for multiple schools and received
those scholarship offers. Many believed he was overrated from the start due to
the fact he had no experience at the varsity level before, but he has changed
opinions quickly, and has turned heads to southeast Antioch.
More than a few football fans and observers believe that Hutchings has been overrated
from the start due to the fact that he hasn’t played football since middle
school, but there was something that caught college scouts eyes, and his
performance so far this season hasn’t disappointed. So far, he holds offers from
Hawaii, UC Davis, and UTEP.
Hutchings has accounted for 36 tackles on the Wolverines defense, and also adds to that
with one interception.
“(Malik) has been very good,” said teammate Robert Taylor. “He’s been very big on D.”
Not only is Hutchings the Wolverines leading-tackler, but has also emerged as the
leader of the defense.
“They trust me to make the necessary adjustments, since I am the middle linebacker I
am the captain of the defense.” Hutchings said.
Older brother Michael Hutchings, previously a highly-touted four-star linebacker and
now playing at USC, has been an role model to brother Malik.
“My brother has been a tremendous help in the recruiting process since he has
experienced it before.”
Their father is currently battling pancreatic cancer, which is one of the deadliest
and rare forms of cancer. With one year, patients battling it have a 25 percent
survival rate compared to a six percent survival rate after five years.
“My motivation comes from my dad.” “I want to get the scholarship like my brother
because I don’t want my dad to pay a single cent.”
While Malik already has three scholarship offers, he has received interest from the
University of Iowa in recent weeks. Iowa, coming off one of their first
non-bowl seasons-they finished 4-8-is returning back their distinction of an
exceptional program as they have started the season 4-1.
College isn’t on the front of Malik’s mind thought right now. He wants to lead them to
another playoff berth and help them advance further than they did last year,
when they lost to Foothill in the NCS quarterfinals.
Deer Valley has a long-standging tradition of football. They have produced current
Raiders defensive back Taiwan Jones, and Hutchings hopes to bring back the glory
days to Antioch.
“We are trying to get the program back to what it used to be,” said Malik.
So far, this season has turned out great for Deer Valley and Malik Hutchings, and
the extra motivation Malik carries for his dad is always with him on and off the
field. If Malik continues to dominate on the playing field, expect for more FBS
offers to come his way.
ANTIOCH, CA-Rarely do first year varsity players get college offers, but Deer
Valley senior linebacker Malik Hutchings has gotten multiple division one offers
in his first year of high school football.
Malik has overcome the odds. Even though he had never played a down of high school
football before this season, he worked out for multiple schools and received
those scholarship offers. Many believed he was overrated from the start due to
the fact he had no experience at the varsity level before, but he has changed
opinions quickly, and has turned heads to southeast Antioch.
More than a few football fans and observers believe that Hutchings has been overrated
from the start due to the fact that he hasn’t played football since middle
school, but there was something that caught college scouts eyes, and his
performance so far this season hasn’t disappointed. So far, he holds offers from
Hawaii, UC Davis, and UTEP.
Hutchings has accounted for 36 tackles on the Wolverines defense, and also adds to that
with one interception.
“(Malik) has been very good,” said teammate Robert Taylor. “He’s been very big on D.”
Not only is Hutchings the Wolverines leading-tackler, but has also emerged as the
leader of the defense.
“They trust me to make the necessary adjustments, since I am the middle linebacker I
am the captain of the defense.” Hutchings said.
Older brother Michael Hutchings, previously a highly-touted four-star linebacker and
now playing at USC, has been an role model to brother Malik.
“My brother has been a tremendous help in the recruiting process since he has
experienced it before.”
Their father is currently battling pancreatic cancer, which is one of the deadliest
and rare forms of cancer. With one year, patients battling it have a 25 percent
survival rate compared to a six percent survival rate after five years.
“My motivation comes from my dad.” “I want to get the scholarship like my brother
because I don’t want my dad to pay a single cent.”
While Malik already has three scholarship offers, he has received interest from the
University of Iowa in recent weeks. Iowa, coming off one of their first
non-bowl seasons-they finished 4-8-is returning back their distinction of an
exceptional program as they have started the season 4-1.
College isn’t on the front of Malik’s mind thought right now. He wants to lead them to
another playoff berth and help them advance further than they did last year,
when they lost to Foothill in the NCS quarterfinals.
Deer Valley has a long-standging tradition of football. They have produced current
Raiders defensive back Taiwan Jones, and Hutchings hopes to bring back the glory
days to Antioch.
“We are trying to get the program back to what it used to be,” said Malik.
So far, this season has turned out great for Deer Valley and Malik Hutchings, and
the extra motivation Malik carries for his dad is always with him on and off the
field. If Malik continues to dominate on the playing field, expect for more FBS
offers to come his way.