It seems that one player has been making a lot of noise in Packer OTAs and recently in Minicamp. That player is UDFA wide receiver, Malik Heath. The Ole Miss product is making the most out of his opportunity and has a chance to make the team. He could join Brenton Cox as the two UDFAs to make the final 53-man roster.
Heth is a very interesting player that could make some noise for the Packers in training camp and in the preseason. Here’s what there’s to like.
Green Bay Packers UDFA WR Malik Heath Getting A Lot Of Buzz
Malik Heath Outproduced Johnathan Mingo Last Season at Ole Miss
This is pretty interesting. Malik Heath had better numbers than Johnathan Mingo last season for the Ole Miss Rebels. Heath was even the leading wide receiver for the Rebels, with 60 receptions for 971 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He did this following his transfer from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Johnathan Mingo, the player who was drafted in the second round by the Panthers this year, had 51 receptions for 861 yards and five touchdowns. It’s strange how Mingo could be selected so high, and Heath fell to becoming a UDFA. Is there more to the numbers? The answer is yes, but it is still pretty eye-opening.
Bright Lights Didn’t Phase Malik Health
Yes, Mingo is a very solid player and has the potential to do big things in the NFL. However, in the big games last season, it was Malik Heath that showed up and rose to the occasion. In the games against Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, and Texas Tech, Health put up over 100 yards in each contest. It is nothing against Mingo, but Heath was putting up big numbers against top teams and was making the big plays when the Ole Miss offense needed them.
Character Combine & a Poor Combine Performance Hurt Heath’s Draft Stock
Malik Heath has the talent and ability to be a very good player in the NFL. However, he became a UDFA because his NFL combine numbers that weren’t great. Also, it seems that he did not do too well in the interviews with other NFL teams. It is unfortunate, but if you have poor Combine numbers and the interviews do not go well, you do yourself a disservice as a player.
That seems to be exactly what happened to Heath. It resulted in him being undrafted. It sounds a lot like his fellow UDFA teammate on the Packers in Brenton Cox, who also had character issues and poor Combine numbers that led him to be undrafted. Just like Cox, if Heath can stay focused, there is a chance he makes the final 53-man roster this season.
Malik Heath Working With Starters in Offseason Program
In both the Packers OTAs and in minicamp, it was reported that Malik Heath was doing quite a bit of work with the starters. He is catching the eye of the coaching staff. It is early, but Heath is putting himself in the mix at receiver. As a UDFA, his chances to make the final 53-man roster were not good to begin with. However, if he can put it all together by showing out in training camp and in the preseason, he has a real shot of making the final roster for the Packers in the fall.
For More Wisconsin Sports Content:
Follow us at @WiSportsHeroics for more Wisconsin sports content. To keep up on all of your favorite sports in Wisconsin, click here! Also, check out our merch store for some amazing WSH merchandise!