2018 (Redshirt Senior, Georgia Tech): Made the very most of his lone season at the NCAA Division I FBS level, leading the team in tackles (68) and interceptions (2) while starting all 13 games at free safety … Recorded at least one tackle in every game and had five or more stops in 8-of-12 contests … Burst on to the scene with seven tackles at USF (Sept. 8) … Returned his first interception of the season 42 yards at Pitt (Sept. 15) … A week later, picked off another pass that he returned 42 yards while also tallying six solo tackles against eventual national champion Clemson (Sept. 22) … Had a season-high 10 tackles against Bowling Green (Sept. 29) and North Carolina (Nov. 3) … Tallied eight stops and broke up a pass in overtime win over Virginia (Nov. 17) … Closed his career with seven tackles in Quick Lane Bowl vs. Minnesota (Dec. 26) … An outstanding student who is pursing a master’s degree in quantitative and computational finance, Rivera was recognized for his achievements on the field and in the classroom by being named first-team Academic All-District, Academic all-ACC and to the National Football Foundation’s prestigious Hampshire Society.
2017 (Redshirt Junior, Wofford): Started all 13 games at free safety … Finished third on the team in total tackles with 73 … Also had four pass breakups and a forced fumble … Helped lead Wofford to a 10-3 overall record, the outright Southern Conference championship (7-1 in league play) and a second-straight NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearance … Was named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after leading team with ten tackles and intercepting a two-point conversion attempt with 46 seconds left in the game to secure a season-opening win over Furman (Sept. 2) … Recorded a season-high eight tackles in NCAA Division I FCS second-round loss at eventual national champion North Dakota State (12/9) … Named to Southern Conference fall all-academic team.
2016 (Redshirt Sophomore, Wofford): Played in eleven games with five starts at free safety … Recorded 40 total tackles and an interception on the season… Helped lead Wofford to a 10-4 overall record (6-2 SoCon) and its first NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearance in four years, where it advanced to the national quarterfinals … Tallied six tackles at Ole Miss (Sept. 10) … Notched a career-high 11 tackles and intercepted a pass in season-ending loss at Youngstown State (Dec. 10) in FCS quarterfinals … Named to the Southern Conference academic honor roll and the Southern Conference fall all-academic team.
2015 (Redshirt Freshman, Wofford): Notched 18 total tackles in four games … Had three stops in season opener at Clemson (Sept. 5) … Recorded a season-high seven tackles against Tennessee Tech (Sept. 12) and The Citadel (Oct. 10) … Named to the Southern Conference academic honor roll.
2014 (True Freshman, Wofford): Did not see action due to injury and redshirted … Named to the Southern Conference academic honor roll.
High School: Two-time all-county honoree … Three-year letterwinner … Recorded 175 career tackles, three sacks, an interception returned for touchdown, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in 39 games (27 starts) … Helped lead team to state semifinal appearances as a sophomore (2011) and senior (2013) … Served as team captain as a senior … Coached by Darrell Sutherland … Also earned three letters in track and field … Helped lead Bartram Trail to state championships in track and field as a junior (2012) and (2013) … Set school records for the clean and jerk in the 169-pound and 183-pound weight classes as a member of the weightlifting team … Member of Beta Club.
Personal: Full name is Malik Antonio Rivera … Born March 26, 1996 … Son of Jose Rivera and Sandra Morris-Rivera … One of four siblings … Started playing football in seventh grade … Graduated from Wofford in May 2018 with a bachelor’s degree as a triple-major in mathematics, finance and computer science … Is pursuing a master’s degree in quantitative and computational finance at Georgia Tech … Is one of seven current Yellow Jackets that have already earned bachelor’s degrees (joining fellow incoming graduate transfer Zach Roberts and Georgia Tech grads Cheyenne Hunt, Tre’ Jackson, Jalen Johnson, Andrew Marshall and Tyler Merriweather).
