#12

Malik McClain

WR · Arizona State · Sr. · #12

Returning to Arizona State for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Malik McClain

WR · Arizona State · Sr · #12

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★★
#283 national
CFB
College
3 teams
2021–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2021–2025

2 coaches
2021
Arizona State
2022
Arizona State
2023
Arizona State
era →
2024
Arizona State
2025
Arizona State

Coaching transition mid-career: Herm Edwards → Kenny Dillingham. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2021Florida State5-7HC: Mike Norvell · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2022Florida State10-3HC: Mike Norvell · Run-leaning
2023Penn State10-3HC: James Franklin · Run-leaning
2024Arizona State11-3HC: Kenny Dillingham · Run-leaning
2025Arizona State8-5HC: Kenny Dillingham · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Arizona State3144114.21--
2024Arizona State28542.51--
2023Penn State67111.81--
2022Florida State1720612.13--
2021Florida State1619011.92--
Career7299313.88--
SeasonTeam
2025Arizona State----------
2024Arizona State----------
2023Penn State----------
2022Florida State16------
2021Florida State----------
Career16------

How he plays

Play style

Moves the chains on third down.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Arizona State

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Wide receiver · Arizona State

Returning around him

  • 70% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
  • 4 Arizona State players drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: +3 net (24 in / 21 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Arizona State · Last season: 8-5 (AP #24) · Talent rank #33 · 2026 recruiting class #40

DNA match

Player DNA

Possession Receiver

Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.

WR

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Tristan Smith’s 2025 season.

Clemson · 2025

#2

Trond Grizzell

California · 2024

80%
#3

Dominic Johnson

Buffalo · 2021

74%
#4

E.J. Williams Jr.

Indiana · 2023

74%
#5

Isaiah Winstead

Toledo · 2021

74%

Matches Tristan on

TD rate
Total EPA (college ability)
Reception volume

Differs from Tristan on

EPA / play (adj) (lower)

Through 4 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Hunter Long’s path through Boston College.

Hunter Long

99%match

Boston College · 2020

All-ACCNFL Rd 3 · Pk 18
#2

Taylor Grimes

Incarnate Word · 2022

97%
#3

Tristan Smith

Clemson · 2025

96%
#4

Anthony Lowe

Gardner-Webb · 2025

95%
#5

Reginald Todd

Troy · 2021

94%

Matches Hunter on

Yards per reception
2021202220232025

As a graduate, his production profile tracks closest to Loic Fouonji's graduate season at Vanderbilt (2024).

Loic Fouonji

62%match

Vanderbilt · 2024

#2

Marcus Burke

UCF · 2025

59%
#3

Malick Meiga

Coastal Carolina · 2025

58%
#4

Tyrone Broden Jr.

Arkansas · 2024

58%
#5

Jerand Bradley

Kansas State · 2025

All-Big 12
57%

Matches Loic on

Total EPA (college ability)
Height
TD rate

Differs from Loic on

EPA / play (adj) (lower)
Reception volume (higher)

Player DNA

Players who play like Malik McClain

#1

Tristan Smith

Clemson · 2025

96%
#2

Keke Chism

Missouri · 2021

93%

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #479

Final rank
#703
Avg #641.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #479 this season.

Development

Development Trajectory · receiving yards

2021–2025
1902021
2062022
71.02023
85.02024
4412025

+132%

Up 132% from first season to most-recent.