Biography
HONORS
* 2023 Honorable-Mention All-Mountain West
Athletic DB who started more games (11) than any other Aztec cornerback last year ... Made the move from safety to cornerback midway through the 2021 fall camp ... Enters the 2023 season as the starting field cornerback.
JUNIOR SEASON (2023)
Was named a preseason first-team all-Mountain West selection by Sports Info Solutions, a second-team pick by Phil Steele Magazine and a third-team honoree by Athlon Sports ... Started all 12 games this season and 23 consecutive games, the longest streak among all current Aztecs ... Totaled 47 tackles (33 solo) ... Added seven pass breakups and an interception ... Also had two tackles for loss, including a 10-yard sack ... Played 692 defensive snaps, second most among all Aztec defenders ... Also served as the backup punt returner ... Has 37 return yards on three attempts (12.3 avg) this season ... Earned the start in the opener against Ohio on Aug. 26, making three tackles (two solo) while playing all 87 snaps on defense ... Started on defense for the second straight game to open the season, playing 70 snaps ... Recorded his first interception of the season and fourth of his career ... Set a career-high with four passes broken up after entering the game with five for his career ... The four PBUs tied for the sixth most in a game this season in FBS and tied for the fourth most in a game in school history ... An Aztec has only recorded games with at least four PBUs 17 times in program history ... Also had a pair of solo tackles ... Was named the team’s defensive player of the game ... Logged 50 snaps in a start against UCLA on Sept. 9 ... Recorded the third most tackles by an Aztec with six (four solo), tying his career-high and more than doubling his season total ... Added his first quarterback hurry of the season ... Played 52 snaps in his fourth start of the season at No. 16/17 Oregon State on Sept. 16 ... Totaled four solo tackles for the second straight game ... Had one TFL of five yards ... Started on special teams and had two punt returns for a total of one yard ... Ranked 6th in PFF’s defense grades for FBS cornerbacks in week three (77.5, min. 50 snaps) and 9th in coverage grades (79.3, min. 25 snaps) ... Started the conference opener against Boise State on Sept. 22 ... Made two tackles, both solo, on 35 defensive snaps ... Also recorded a 36-yard punt return, the longest of his career ... The 36 return yards is a career-high ... Logged 50 snaps in a start at Air Force on Sept. 30 ... Tied for second on the team with six tackles (four solo) ... His six tackles tied his career-high, the second time he’s done that this year ... Made two solo tackles at Hawai’i on Oct. 14 ... Started his 20th consecutive game against Nevada on Oct. 21 ... Had five tackles (three solo), including the first sack of his career ... The sack went for a 10-yard loss in the third quarter ... It is also his second tackle for loss this season, and third of his career ... Made three tackles (all solo) in a start against Utah State on Nov. 4 ... Played 70 of 79 defensive snaps at Colorado State on Nov. 11 ... Totaled five tackles (three solo), one shy of his career-best ... Recorded his first forced fumble in the fourth quarter ... Totaled four tackles (two solo) at San Jose State on Nov. 18 ... His four tackles were tied for second most on the team ... Registered five tackles (three solo) in the season finale against Fresno State on Nov. 25, tied for second-most on the team ... Also recorded his seventh pass breakup of the season.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2022)
Was named an honorable-mention all-Mountain West selection by the league’s head coaches and media and a third-team pick by Phil Steele Magazine ... Played in all 13 games, starting the final 11 ... Had 43 tackles (34 solo) with a tackle for loss, three interceptions and five pass breakups ... Ranked in a tie for fifth in the Mountain West in interceptions (3, T-43rd in FBS) and tied for ninth in interceptions per game (0.23) ... Played in 588 of the 874 snaps overall, the most among Aztec cornerbacks (No. 2 is 418) ... Logged his first career defensive snaps (18) against Arizona on?Sept. 3, making one solo tackle ... Played more (49 snaps) against Idaho State on Sept. 10, making a career-high four tackles (three solo) with his first pass breakup ... Earned his first career start on?Sept. 17 at No. 14/15 Utah, where he tied a team high with six tackles (five solo) in 47 snaps ... The six tackles were a career high ... Made a second straight start against Toledo on?Sept. 24, making five tackles (four solo) with a pass breakup in 51 snaps ... Registered three tackles (all solo) and an interception in a start and 47 snaps at Boise State on Sept. 30 ... The interception, which was returned 31 yards, was the first of his career and set up an Aztec field goal to put SDSU?up, 3-0 ... Had five tackles (four solo), including a tackle for loss, in 49 defensive snaps in a start against Hawai’i on Oct. 8 ... Had two solo stops in a start and 34 snaps at Nevada on Oct. 22 ... Registered three tackles (two solo) in a start at Fresno State on?Oct. 29, playing 60 of the 75 snaps in the game ... Came up with his second career interception against UNLV on Nov. 5, while adding four tackles and a pass breakup ... Started and played 57 of the 61 snaps ... Had three tackles (one solo) and a career-high two pass breakups in a start and 38 snaps vs. San José State on Nov. 12 ... Finished with three tackles (two solo) in 31 snaps at New Mexico on Nov. 18 ... Came up with a pair of tackles in a start and 37 snaps vs. Air Force on Nov. 26 ... Logged two tackles (one solo) and an interception in 70 snaps in a start vs. Middle Tennessee in the EasyPost Hawai‘i Bowl on Dec. 24.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2021)
Saw action in eight games on special teams, but did not record a stat ... Played in each of the first six games before not playing at Air Force on Oct. 23 ... Played again vs. Fresno State on Oct. 30 ... Did not play at Hawai’i on Nov. 6 ... Played vs. Nevada on Nov. 13... Did not play over the final four games.
REDSHIRT SEASON (2020)
Played two games on special teams without recording a stat ... Did not travel for the first four games ... Made the travel squad for the first time for the game at Nevada on Nov. 21 but did not play ... Logged his first special teams snaps at Colorado on Nov. 28 ... Also played the following week against Colorado State (Dec. 5) ... Did not play in the season finale at No. 14/16 Brigham Young on Dec. 12.
HIGH SCHOOL
Was a three-year letter winner at Edison High School in Fresno, Calif. … Was a two-time first-team all-league selection … Also a captain and team MVP … A three-star recruit by both 247sports and ESPN, and a two-star recruit by Rivals … Received a scout grade of 82 by 247sports and 73 by ESPN.
PERSONAL
Dezjhon Malone was born March 17, 2002, in Fresno, Calif. ... Son of Desmend Malone and Jazmin Thomas ... Picked the Aztecs over offers from Oregon State, Brigham Young, Fresno State and UNLV ... Is undecided on a major.
SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Tackles: 6 at Air Force (9/30/23), vs. UCLA (9/9/23), at No. 14/15 Utah (9/17/22)
Tackles For Loss: 1.0 vs. Nevada (10/21/23), at No. 16/17 Oregon State (9/16/23), vs. Hawai’i (10/8/22)
Sacks: 1 vs. Nevada (10/21/23)
Interceptions: 1, four times
Pass Breakups: 4 vs. Idaho State (9/2/23)
Fumbles Forced: 1 at Colorado State (11/11/23)
Punt Returns: 2 at No. 16/17 Oregon State (9/16/23)
Punt Return Yards: 36 vs. Boise State (9/22/23)
Long Punt Return: 36 vs. Boise State (9/22/23)
