A 6-foot-4 contested-catch specialist who transferred from Virginia to Notre Dame for one dominant season, Malachi Fields was the Fighting Irish's highest-drafted transfer addition ever.
Malachi Fields spent three seasons at Virginia before a graduate transfer to Notre Dame turned him into one of the most sought-after receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft class. The New York Giants selected him in the third round, betting on his size, contested-catch ability and a Senior Bowl performance that boosted his stock heading into the draft.
Path to the league
Fields, born in Charlottesville, Virginia, played quarterback at Monticello High School before colleges recruited him as a wide receiver. He signed with Virginia and developed into a full-time contributor before transferring to Notre Dame for his final season of eligibility in 2025. The Giants selected him with the 74th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Fields finished his college career with 165 receptions for 2,479 yards and 16 touchdowns across Virginia and Notre Dame. At Virginia he caught 55 passes for 808 yards and five touchdowns in his final season there, earning Offensive Player of the Year honors and third-team All-ACC recognition. His combination of size and ball skills made him Notre Dame's highest-drafted wide receiver since Chase Claypool in 2020.
2025 season recap
In his lone season at Notre Dame, Fields caught 36 passes for 630 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games while helping anchor the Fighting Irish passing attack. His draft stock rose further after a strong Senior Bowl showing, and the Giants took him in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Malachi Fields
- WNDU: Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields drafted 74th overall by New York Giants
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- offense
- College
- Notre Dame
- Hometown
- Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
