Deacon Sports Xtra: Perspective, Focus and Appreciation
9/22/2022 11:45:00 AM | Football, Les Johns
Mustapha credits his teammates, coaches and time away from the game in helping him to become one of the better players on the Wake Forest defense.
Though he was held out of the second half, Wake Forest safety Malik Mustapha celebrated a Demon Deacon Gator Bowl victory dancing around in a post-game TikTok with friends.
After the adrenaline of the game wore off, he realized he wasn't right.
"I got home and knew I hurt quite a bit," Mustapha said. "We had just won a bowl game, so I didn't think anything of it. I was about to go back in the game."
The Gator Bowl victory wrapped up a promising freshman campaign for Mustapha, who had transferred to Wake Forest after a season at Richmond. He finished his first year at Wake Forest ninth on the team in tackles with 37, and two of nearly everything else — tackles for loss, interceptions, pass break ups and fumble recoveries.
"I'm not going to lie, the surgery happened the week before classes started for the second semester," Mustapha said. "That first day of classes was my moping day. After that I spoke to the staff and apologized. I told them that wasn't going to be my mindset for the whole thing. Even if I had bad days, I tried not to carry that around my teammates and coaches.
"I almost had to put on a front. There were times I was by myself and had those moments. But talking to my family and the good people in my corner really helped me along in this process."
Just a little more than eight months later, Mustapha was on the practice field during Fall Camp and he started the season at safety as the Demon Deacons hosted VMI in the season opener.
"The key for the rapid recovery was the staff and my mindset," Mustapha said. "I told the staff that it was something I was going to attack. I told them they were going to get the best out of me, so I asked them to give me their best too.
"They just matched my energy, attitude and effort. It was a collective effort and I couldn't thank them enough. Now, I feel like I'm back even better than I was, and I have to thank the staff for that rapid recovery."
While Mustapha got in the mix during Fall Camp during Spring Camp he was still going through rehab, but he didn't waste that time either, working in the film room and taking mental reps.
"After not having spring ball, I was able to develop my game in the film room and grow my football I.Q.," he said. "I talked with my coaches and teammates about ways to grow my game in other aspects, since I wasn't out there physically with the team getting the reps. I had to take that seriously. I really feel like the way I've played to start the season is just a result of what I put in throughout the offseason."
He's making an early impact, flying around to the ball and hitting opposing offenses with great ferocity. Mustapha could be on the verge of a breakout season, as the Demon Deacon defense looks to make great strides in 2022.
After his best game in his collegiate career with 12 tackles, 2.0 sacks and a key forced fumble, Mustapha goes into the Clemson game with the team lead with tackles and tied for the team lead in sacks.
"It's definitely a good feeling," he said. "Going through recovery is a tough thing. You never know how you're going to come back from that. Once we knew what it was, I was in fast with the surgeon. I knew I had to put my head down and work. I couldn't put my head down and just mope around dreading that the process sucks.
"I just took it as an opportunity to get better. I feel like that helped me as a person, not just as a football player. It really taught me some things and helped build character. I feel like I've come back stronger from it."
For now, Mustapha is trying to apply the lessons learned in the last year to stay healthy and help the Demon Deacons continue to win, and his path to the playing field a season ago was excelling in special teams.
"I'm just trying to go down the field like a missile," he said. "Even last year when I wasn't getting the defensive reps, and was easing into the rotation, that was my plan. I was going to fly down the field and try to knock someone out. That brings a certain energy to the team and a great morale. That was the goal for me to play more, is putting more effort into that. It's a game changer, and we see it all the time in college football how it affects the game.
"At the end of the day, I just like hitting people."
With his experience and maturity belying his underclassmen status, Mustapha hopes he can impart upon upcoming defensive backs the importance of making a big impact on special teams.
"It's an opportunity, and you only get so many," he said. "You never know what could happen, so you have to play every snap like it's your last. I try to take as much pride in never taking anything for granted."
Adding more tools to Mustapha's toolbox on the field is new safeties coach James Adams, who has built meaningful relationships with the players in his room while also expanding their skillset.
"I just feel like our mindset has changed and our energy has been fueled," Mustapha said of Adams' leadership. "I feel like he's really elevated our games. I've seen it in the way he's taught us new techniques and breaks down film with us. He's a people person. He really just doesn't coach, he tried to create a bond with each and every one of his guys.
"There's been a trust built within our unit, and it elevates our game as a whole. I was able to fly around and make plays as a result of him coming in. We've put our trust in his hands. I appreciate coach Adams as a coach and a person."
With the new aggressive defensive scheme with defensive coordinator Brad Lambert at the helm, Mustapha was part of a game-changing play in the 45-25 win at Vanderbilt. Late in the first quarter, Mustapha was one of three players chasing Vandy quarterback Mike Wright out of the pocket and he wildly chucked the ball down the field. Brendon Harris tipped it and it was picked off by Coby Davis, who returned it 31 yards for a touchdown that completely shifted momentum toward the Demon Deacons.
"It was something we drew up that week," Mustapha said. "It hit and we came free. We put a lot of pressure on him. I was just focused on securing the quarterback and I didn't even know he threw the ball. I thought I'd got a sack. Then, I looked up and saw Coby get it in his hands.
"I got up and started to scramble to find someone to block. I wanted to make sure nobody touched him. It was a surreal moment and a big momentum shift in the game. It was an awesome feeling."
This won't be the only game-changing play of the season for Mustapha. He does like to hit people, after all.
After the adrenaline of the game wore off, he realized he wasn't right.
"I got home and knew I hurt quite a bit," Mustapha said. "We had just won a bowl game, so I didn't think anything of it. I was about to go back in the game."
The Gator Bowl victory wrapped up a promising freshman campaign for Mustapha, who had transferred to Wake Forest after a season at Richmond. He finished his first year at Wake Forest ninth on the team in tackles with 37, and two of nearly everything else — tackles for loss, interceptions, pass break ups and fumble recoveries.
"I'm not going to lie, the surgery happened the week before classes started for the second semester," Mustapha said. "That first day of classes was my moping day. After that I spoke to the staff and apologized. I told them that wasn't going to be my mindset for the whole thing. Even if I had bad days, I tried not to carry that around my teammates and coaches.
"I almost had to put on a front. There were times I was by myself and had those moments. But talking to my family and the good people in my corner really helped me along in this process."
Just a little more than eight months later, Mustapha was on the practice field during Fall Camp and he started the season at safety as the Demon Deacons hosted VMI in the season opener.
"The key for the rapid recovery was the staff and my mindset," Mustapha said. "I told the staff that it was something I was going to attack. I told them they were going to get the best out of me, so I asked them to give me their best too.
"They just matched my energy, attitude and effort. It was a collective effort and I couldn't thank them enough. Now, I feel like I'm back even better than I was, and I have to thank the staff for that rapid recovery."
While Mustapha got in the mix during Fall Camp during Spring Camp he was still going through rehab, but he didn't waste that time either, working in the film room and taking mental reps.
"After not having spring ball, I was able to develop my game in the film room and grow my football I.Q.," he said. "I talked with my coaches and teammates about ways to grow my game in other aspects, since I wasn't out there physically with the team getting the reps. I had to take that seriously. I really feel like the way I've played to start the season is just a result of what I put in throughout the offseason."
He's making an early impact, flying around to the ball and hitting opposing offenses with great ferocity. Mustapha could be on the verge of a breakout season, as the Demon Deacon defense looks to make great strides in 2022.
After his best game in his collegiate career with 12 tackles, 2.0 sacks and a key forced fumble, Mustapha goes into the Clemson game with the team lead with tackles and tied for the team lead in sacks.
"It's definitely a good feeling," he said. "Going through recovery is a tough thing. You never know how you're going to come back from that. Once we knew what it was, I was in fast with the surgeon. I knew I had to put my head down and work. I couldn't put my head down and just mope around dreading that the process sucks.
"I just took it as an opportunity to get better. I feel like that helped me as a person, not just as a football player. It really taught me some things and helped build character. I feel like I've come back stronger from it."
For now, Mustapha is trying to apply the lessons learned in the last year to stay healthy and help the Demon Deacons continue to win, and his path to the playing field a season ago was excelling in special teams.
"I'm just trying to go down the field like a missile," he said. "Even last year when I wasn't getting the defensive reps, and was easing into the rotation, that was my plan. I was going to fly down the field and try to knock someone out. That brings a certain energy to the team and a great morale. That was the goal for me to play more, is putting more effort into that. It's a game changer, and we see it all the time in college football how it affects the game.
"At the end of the day, I just like hitting people."
With his experience and maturity belying his underclassmen status, Mustapha hopes he can impart upon upcoming defensive backs the importance of making a big impact on special teams.
"It's an opportunity, and you only get so many," he said. "You never know what could happen, so you have to play every snap like it's your last. I try to take as much pride in never taking anything for granted."
Adding more tools to Mustapha's toolbox on the field is new safeties coach James Adams, who has built meaningful relationships with the players in his room while also expanding their skillset.
"I just feel like our mindset has changed and our energy has been fueled," Mustapha said of Adams' leadership. "I feel like he's really elevated our games. I've seen it in the way he's taught us new techniques and breaks down film with us. He's a people person. He really just doesn't coach, he tried to create a bond with each and every one of his guys.
"There's been a trust built within our unit, and it elevates our game as a whole. I was able to fly around and make plays as a result of him coming in. We've put our trust in his hands. I appreciate coach Adams as a coach and a person."
With the new aggressive defensive scheme with defensive coordinator Brad Lambert at the helm, Mustapha was part of a game-changing play in the 45-25 win at Vanderbilt. Late in the first quarter, Mustapha was one of three players chasing Vandy quarterback Mike Wright out of the pocket and he wildly chucked the ball down the field. Brendon Harris tipped it and it was picked off by Coby Davis, who returned it 31 yards for a touchdown that completely shifted momentum toward the Demon Deacons.
"It was something we drew up that week," Mustapha said. "It hit and we came free. We put a lot of pressure on him. I was just focused on securing the quarterback and I didn't even know he threw the ball. I thought I'd got a sack. Then, I looked up and saw Coby get it in his hands.
"I got up and started to scramble to find someone to block. I wanted to make sure nobody touched him. It was a surreal moment and a big momentum shift in the game. It was an awesome feeling."
This won't be the only game-changing play of the season for Mustapha. He does like to hit people, after all.
Players Mentioned
Football Media Availability (9/24/25)
Wednesday, September 24
Football Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23
Wake Forest Football Head Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Week 5)
Tuesday, September 23
Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Sept. 22, 2025)
Monday, September 22