Mustapha Taken in Fourth Round by the 49ers
4/27/2024 1:46:00 PM | Football
Wake Forest has now had at least one pick in every NFL Draft since 2017, the second-longest streak in the common NFL Draft era (since 1967). That streak matches the program's record of now seven-straight bowl berths.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The #ProDeacs family added its newest member when the San Francisco 49ers chose defensive back Malik Mustapha with the 124th overall pick in the fourth round.
Mustpaha is just the fourth Wake Forest player to ever be chosen by the 49ers and the first since offensive lineman Joe Looney was chosen in 2012 in the fourth round.
This is the ninth defensive player selected in the Dave Clawson era and the fourth defensive back, joining Ja'Sir Taylor (2022 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers), Jessie Bates (2018 NFL Draft, Cincinnati Bengals) and Kevin Johnson (2015 NFL Draft, Houston Texans).
Wake Forest has now had at least one pick in every NFL Draft since 2017, the second-longest streak in the common NFL Draft era (since 1967). That streak matches the program's record of now seven-straight bowl berths. Additionally during this streak, the Demon Deacons have had 44 players sign NFL contracts.
From Coach Clawson
"Malik Mustapha is an excellent football player. Football is very important to him as he was one of the best special teams players in our program. Malik is someone who impacts a football game in a multitude of ways. Defensively, he is a good open-space tackler and has good instincts defending the pass. His strength and testing numbers from our Pro Day and the NFL Combine speak for themselves, but I was so impressed with how he found his voice last year as one of our captains. Malik will be an impact player with the 49ers and I look forward to following his career in the NFL."
From Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network
"I thought he is one of the best tacklers in the secondary in this year's draft class."
From Charles Davis of NFL Network
"I love this guy. When I turned on the tape, I put him on my pound the table group of prospects. When you turn on the tape, it almost looks like he is playing a little bit more sped up than others. He just appear suddenly, he is just in the picture and makes the play. I love this kid."
More on Malik Mustapha
As a junior, Mustapha was named a team captain and went on to start in every game during the 2023 season for the Demon Deacons. He finished the season ranked third on the team with 80 total tackles including a team-leading 45 solo tackles, marking the most by a Wake Forest defensive back since Cameron Glenn in 2018 when he finished the season with 98 tackles.
Mustapha, who was invited to the Reese's Senior Bowl as well as the NFL Combine, had two games with 10 or more tackles and nine games with five or more tackles. He set a career-high tying 13 tackles including nine solo tackles in the season finale against Syracuse. Mustapha returned an interception for 50 yards in the win against Vanderbilt and recorded a season-high 2.0 tackles-for-loss in the win against Elon.
He ended his career with 33 consecutive games with at least one tackle dating back to the 2021 season, ending his Wake Forest career with 175 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, three interceptions, 10 pass deflections, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
As a freshman and sophomore, he played a key role in helping the Deacs to 2022 Gasparilla Bowl, 2021 Gator Bowl and 2021 ACC Atlantic Division titles while also helping Wake Forest to their highest AP Poll and College Football Playoff rankings in program history, ranking inside of the top 10 during both seasons.
In 2022, he started in all 10 games he played, ranking fourth on the team in tackles, totaling 58 including 32 solo tackles while also having 8.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He posted a career-high 13 tackles in the victory over Liberty while also having 2.0 sacks and a key forced fumble that led to the go-ahead touchdown.
In 2021, Mustapha finished the season with 37 total tackles including 28 solo tackles while also having 2.0 tackles for loss and two interceptions, helping the Deacs clinch an ACC Atlantic Division title with a pick against Boston College.
What's Out There?
Check out all the social media buzz around Malik Mustapha being selected by the 49ers.
EMBEDDED TWEETS/SOCIAL POSTS
Mustpaha is just the fourth Wake Forest player to ever be chosen by the 49ers and the first since offensive lineman Joe Looney was chosen in 2012 in the fourth round.
This is the ninth defensive player selected in the Dave Clawson era and the fourth defensive back, joining Ja'Sir Taylor (2022 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers), Jessie Bates (2018 NFL Draft, Cincinnati Bengals) and Kevin Johnson (2015 NFL Draft, Houston Texans).
Wake Forest has now had at least one pick in every NFL Draft since 2017, the second-longest streak in the common NFL Draft era (since 1967). That streak matches the program's record of now seven-straight bowl berths. Additionally during this streak, the Demon Deacons have had 44 players sign NFL contracts.
From Coach Clawson
"Malik Mustapha is an excellent football player. Football is very important to him as he was one of the best special teams players in our program. Malik is someone who impacts a football game in a multitude of ways. Defensively, he is a good open-space tackler and has good instincts defending the pass. His strength and testing numbers from our Pro Day and the NFL Combine speak for themselves, but I was so impressed with how he found his voice last year as one of our captains. Malik will be an impact player with the 49ers and I look forward to following his career in the NFL."
From Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network
"I thought he is one of the best tacklers in the secondary in this year's draft class."
From Charles Davis of NFL Network
"I love this guy. When I turned on the tape, I put him on my pound the table group of prospects. When you turn on the tape, it almost looks like he is playing a little bit more sped up than others. He just appear suddenly, he is just in the picture and makes the play. I love this kid."
More on Malik Mustapha
As a junior, Mustapha was named a team captain and went on to start in every game during the 2023 season for the Demon Deacons. He finished the season ranked third on the team with 80 total tackles including a team-leading 45 solo tackles, marking the most by a Wake Forest defensive back since Cameron Glenn in 2018 when he finished the season with 98 tackles.
Mustapha, who was invited to the Reese's Senior Bowl as well as the NFL Combine, had two games with 10 or more tackles and nine games with five or more tackles. He set a career-high tying 13 tackles including nine solo tackles in the season finale against Syracuse. Mustapha returned an interception for 50 yards in the win against Vanderbilt and recorded a season-high 2.0 tackles-for-loss in the win against Elon.
He ended his career with 33 consecutive games with at least one tackle dating back to the 2021 season, ending his Wake Forest career with 175 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, three interceptions, 10 pass deflections, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
As a freshman and sophomore, he played a key role in helping the Deacs to 2022 Gasparilla Bowl, 2021 Gator Bowl and 2021 ACC Atlantic Division titles while also helping Wake Forest to their highest AP Poll and College Football Playoff rankings in program history, ranking inside of the top 10 during both seasons.
In 2022, he started in all 10 games he played, ranking fourth on the team in tackles, totaling 58 including 32 solo tackles while also having 8.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He posted a career-high 13 tackles in the victory over Liberty while also having 2.0 sacks and a key forced fumble that led to the go-ahead touchdown.
In 2021, Mustapha finished the season with 37 total tackles including 28 solo tackles while also having 2.0 tackles for loss and two interceptions, helping the Deacs clinch an ACC Atlantic Division title with a pick against Boston College.
What's Out There?
Check out all the social media buzz around Malik Mustapha being selected by the 49ers.
EMBEDDED TWEETS/SOCIAL POSTS
Heading to the Bay, @_malikmustapha 🌉#NFLDraft | #ProDeacs 🎩 pic.twitter.com/1QShEZSqnF
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) April 27, 2024
Welcome to The Bay, @_malikmustapha!#49ersDraft x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/aFDfn9IV9r
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) April 27, 2024
"One of the best tackling players in the secondary in this year's draft class."@_malikmustapha @WakeFB
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) April 27, 2024
📺: 2024 #NFLDraft – Network/ESPN/ABC
📱: Streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/n6a8friGTG
#NFLDraft
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) April 27, 2024
The @49ers have selected Senior Bowl alum @_malikmustaphaout of @WakeFB. Congratulations! #FTTB #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/fhxJ98NVOl
Malik Mustapha: Career best 87.5 run defense grade in 2023 (5th among Power Five Safeties) 😤 pic.twitter.com/iNGe85p1xu
— PFF SF 49ers (@PFF_49ers) April 27, 2024
Players Mentioned
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