Malik Holmes is emerging as a steady VMI safety with special-teams grit and room to grow
In the 2026 season, Malik Holmes is listed as a redshirt junior safety at VMI at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, and he has already logged tackles this year while bringing experience from earlier college snaps in 2023 when he appeared in two games and made his debut versus Davidson. His appeal is the backstory: a high-school playmaker who piled up 80 tackles, 7 interceptions, and 12 pass breakups in one season, plus offensive production and all-state recognition, which points to toughness, versatility, and competitive juice. He looks like a depth piece with upside rather than a finished product.
