Malik McClain, a wide receiver who spent the 2023 college football season at Penn State, has secured a spot on the New York Jets 53-man active roster as an undrafted rookie.
College Career Path and Penn State Tenure
McClain’s journey to the NFL includes stops at multiple collegiate programs. He began his career at Arizona State, playing there from 2021 through 2022, before transferring to Penn State ahead of the 2023 season. Standing at 6-foot-4, McClain arrived in University Park as a high-level high school recruit projected to help solve the Nittany Lions’ need for perimeter targets alongside first-year starting quarterback Drew Allar.
That breakout potential flashed immediately in his Penn State debut on Sept. 2, 2023, when he caught four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown in a win against West Virginia. That performance earned him the program’s special teams player of the week honors. However, his offensive production dropped significantly following the opener. McClain recorded just two more receptions for 13 yards over the remainder of the 2023 campaign, finishing the year with 13 total appearances primarily concentrated on special teams. After the season, he transferred back to Arizona State for his remaining eligibility.
Transition to the NFL and Special Teams Role
Across five total college seasons, McClain logged 72 receptions for 993 yards—averaging 13.8 yards per catch—along with eight touchdowns. Despite modest offensive output during his college career, the Jets retained him following training camp evaluations.
With New York, McClain enters the professional ranks looking to carve out a role utilizing his size and athleticism.
Worth a look