Dallas Cowboys 2014-2016 SAF - Malik Hooker (2016 All-American, 2016 All-Big Ten, National Champion)

With the 15th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select Malik Hooker. pic.twitter.com/fJLibeKgsm

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 28, 2017

 

Malik Hooker is headed to Indy. The Colts took the star Ohio State safety 15th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. https://t.co/SGdcTB6GRh

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 28, 2017

 

You're going to love the Colts' first-round pick, Malik Hooker. https://t.co/NqgfVAGxWT

— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelStar) April 28, 2017

 

Colts landed an elite defensive playmaker in Malik Hooker pic.twitter.com/8lEnLRJYTj

— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) April 28, 2017

 

"I didn't think it'd happen this fast."@MalikHooker24 still surprised by his rise from @OhioStateFB to @Colts.https://t.co/qzOEIP15a6 pic.twitter.com/OCnzFSnLW8

— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) May 1, 2017

 

Colts first-round pick Hooker doing his homework while sidelined https://t.co/aCEjSKPtT6 via @247Sports

— OSUBasketballJunkie (@ScarletBuckeye2) May 13, 2017

 

Malik Hooker signs rookie deal projected to be worth $12,599,908 with the Indianapolis Colts. https://t.co/10QofSTD39

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) May 18, 2017

 

Will the addition of Malik Hooker help the Colts claim the AFC South crown in 2017? pic.twitter.com/AxnpHr1Fqr

— PFF (@PFF) June 16, 2017

 

With elite range that should help the Colts defense immediately, Malik Hooker can have a strong #RookieImpact in Indianapolis. pic.twitter.com/rAH65lNvkU

— PFF (@PFF) June 18, 2017

 

No. 29 ➡️ @MalikHooker24 pic.twitter.com/zyBrJv2Mbh

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) June 23, 2017

 

Colts first-round pick Malik Hooker tweaked his hamstring during conditioning test and has been placed on PUP.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 25, 2017

 

2. Malik Hooker — S — 2016

You won't find very many three-star prospects on Ohio State's roster anymore, but that's what Malik Hooker was coming out of high school.

Hooker played just one year of high school football before the Buckeyes offered him a scholarship, which he of course accepted. Once at Ohio State though, the road got a little rocky.

After redshirting his freshman season, Hooker was ready to quit football the following winter to pursue a career in basketball. After talking it through with his mom, however, Hooker decided to remain at Ohio State and with the football team.

Hooker saw the field very sparingly his redshirt freshman year, finishing the season with 10 total tackles while playing primarily on special teams and behind starting safeties Tyvis Powell and Vonn Bell.

Then, 2016 happened.

Hooker earned one of the starting safety spots before the season and wasted no time hogging the highlight reel. The former three-star athlete intercepted three passes and scored one touchdown in his first two games as a starter. He finished the season with seven interceptions – tied for third in the nation – and returned a school-record three of them for a touchdown.

His 2016 highlights were beyond impressive, and even though he started just 13 games in his entire college career, the Indianapolis Colts selected him No. 15 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.

 

Even when Malik Hooker did allow catches last year, he wasn't far off pic.twitter.com/pqlU5gdW8S

— PFF (@PFF) August 1, 2017

 

Will Malik Hooker, Quincy Wilson Go From Roommates To Rookie Starters? https://t.co/3y1LhbiSo2 via @Colts

— OSUBasketballJunkie (@ScarletBuckeye2) August 13, 2017

 

The Colts were excited to debut their 2017 draft pick and interception magnet, Malik Hooker. The Buckeye saw some action with four total tackles (one solo) in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.