Malik Mustapha has come a long way since his days as an overlooked high school football player. But even now, as a safety for the undefeated San Francisco 49ers, he hasn't forgotten where he started or the people who doubted he could make it.
Mustapha was a zero-star recruit coming out of high school. He wasn't one of those highly touted prospects with a long list of college offers and a clear path to the NFL. Instead, he began his college career at the University of Richmond before transferring to Wake Forest, where he began to turn heads.
In an interview on Friday with NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco, Mustapha explained that being overlooked has stayed with him throughout his football career. And it's helped him play with a chip on his shoulder.
"Oh, yeah, most definitely, because a lot of people said I couldn't," Mustapha said when asked if he still carries that zero-star mentality. "But I knew I could. I just waited for my opportunity."
That mindset has followed him to San Francisco. Mustapha was selected by the 49ers in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he finished his rookie season as a starter. He missed part of his second season recovering from a knee injury, but the start of the 2026 campaign brought a different challenge. With Marques Sigle playing well and Ji'Ayir Brown also in the mix, Mustapha found himself in a backup role early in the season. For a player accustomed to being on the field, the change wasn't easy.
"It was definitely difficult for sure," Mustapha admitted. "But at the end of the day, like, it was a learning experience for me, just being able to take a step back and just kind of observe, kind of just learn, and being able to be ready when my opportunity is called."
Mustapha didn't allow the situation to discourage him. He understood that everyone on the roster had a role to play, and he wanted to be ready when the team needed him again.
When his opportunity came against the Seattle Seahawks, Mustapha made his presence felt. His aggressive style of play was on full display, and he looked like a player eager to remind everyone what he could bring to the defense. The third-year safety, or as some are calling him, "Malik the Missile," delivered some big hits last Sunday.
For Mustapha, that physicality isn't something he has to manufacture. He described game day as an almost automatic switch, one that turns a calm, composed person into a player ready to throw himself into the action.
"You're going to war out there for sure," Mustapha told Maiocco. "So it's almost like an out-of-body experience. You know, like I'm calm right now. But once I put that armor on, it's like we're going out to battle."
That mentality developed long before he reached the NFL. Mustapha said he was one of the smaller kids growing up, and that experience helped fuel his determination to get stronger and prove himself. His mother also continues to keep him grounded, reminding him that he still has work to do regardless of how well he performs.
"I was always never satisfied," Mustapha said. "It doesn't matter what performance I had, the accolades I had. You know, I always wanted to focus on what I was able to improve on."
Raheem Morris Is Helping Mustapha Take the Next Step
That willingness to improve has become particularly important under defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Mustapha is playing for his third defensive coordinator in three NFL seasons, but he doesn't view the constant changes as a disadvantage. Instead, he believes he's been able to take something from each coach and use those lessons to develop his own understanding of the game.
Morris, in particular, has helped Mustapha become more comfortable trusting his instincts while expanding what he can do in coverage. Mustapha has always been an aggressive presence against the run. The challenge is bringing that same mentality to the passing game without losing sight of his responsibilities.
"Credit to Raheem and my DB coach, Jerry Gray," Mustapha said. "They actually made a pretty interesting comment because they know how downhill and aggressive I am in the run game. But then being able to shift your mind in the pass game and being able to play with that same tenacity, but being able to read the quarterback and being able to still fly around and make plays on the ball as well."
Mustapha believes that coaching has given him the confidence to trust what he sees, commit to his technique, and make plays without second-guessing himself. Still, he doesn't believe he's finished developing. He wants to be consistent, lead his teammates, and be someone they can count on when the game gets physical. Those goals fit the mentality he's carried since he was a kid trying to get noticed.
Mustapha may no longer be a zero-star recruit, but he hasn't lost the mindset that helped him get here. And with Morris helping him become a more complete player, the 49ers may start seeing an even better version of a safety who has never needed much convincing that he belongs.
Watch the full interview below:
More info on: Ji'Ayir Brown, Malik Mustapha, Marques Sigle
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