ROCKINGHAM - Malik Stanback, a senior wide receiver on the Richmond Senior High School varsity football team, caught a tough break during seven-on-seven workouts over the summer when he tore his ACL, which ended his swan song campaign with the Raiders.
Prior to his injury, Stanback was being recruited by a handful of schools all across the eastern seaboard. And lucky enough for the 6-1, 180-pound wideout, one school kept its word to the college football hopeful despite not being able to play this season.
Stanback announced via a Twitter post on Sept. 8 that he was verbally committing to Wofford College, a Division I program that competes in the Southern Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The football program, which is located in Spartanburg, S.C., and coached by Josh Conklin, kept its word to Stanback even after his knee injury, which is something he is very grateful for.
“So thankful for Wofford keeping their faith in me,” Stanback’s verbal commitment tweet read. “I will be attending Wofford College next year. #Grind #GodIsGreat.”
The Terriers showed their faith by inviting Stanback to their season opener on Sept. 1 against The Citadel at Gibbs Stadium. Going with Stanback was Richmond assistant coach Andy Shuler and his wife Whitney, and they watched from both the sidelines and the stands as Wofford impressed with a 28-21 win.
“It means a lot to me that Wofford kept their offer,” Stanback said Monday. “They texted me every chance they got to make sure I was comfortable with my decision to choose Wofford. When I went to the Citadel game, I told them I felt like I was a Richmond because the environment was great and I really liked it.
“I was really happy when I made my decision because I didn’t have to worry about who I had to commit to or which colleges were still standing with me,” he added. “I feel like the pressure is off of me now.”
Stanback explained that one of the determining factors that drove him to choose Wofford was the “personal relationships” Conklin and wide receivers coach Freddie Brown forged with him during the process even after he suffered his injury.
Richmond head football coach Bryan Till also expressed his gratitude for Wofford sticking by his top receiver from a season ago.
“Wofford has stayed with Malik through this whole process and I know that means a lot to him,” Till said. “They never wavered on their commitment to him as a player and I think that is why he felt comfortable committing there. His rehab has gone great as he has continued to be as committed there as he was as a starter. We are proud of him and know he will make Wofford just as proud.”
Last season as a junior, Stanback had a breakout season and was a part of an explosive offensive unit at Richmond that saw success under freshman starting quarterback Caleb Hood. Stanback led the team in receptions (34), reception yards (751), yards per reception amongst players with at least two catches (22.1), yards per game (75.1) and was second on the team behind teammate Da’Shaun Wallace in receiving touchdowns with five.
With his impressive numbers, Stanback earned a spot on the All-Sandhills Athletic Conference team following the season, as Richmond had the most selections with 11. It was all of these things that brought Stanback up on Wofford’s radar in the first place, as well as schools like Old Dominion University, The Citadel, East Carolina, and he even had interest from the University of Michigan.
And despite everything that has happened over the past couple of months, Stanback is certain that Wofford is the best school for him to attend to further his education and his football playing career. Someone who Stanback is very close to is his mother, Penny McDonald, and he discussed his final decision with her before verbally committing to Wofford’s full-ride scholarship offer.
“I went to my mom, and she wanted to make sure I was comfortable with the decision I was making,” Stanback said. “She was excited that I chose Wofford. Coach Brown has been wanting to meet her, so I’m trying to set that up.”
While he’s not able to play alongside his Richmond teammates as the Raiders look to capture their first conference title in eight years, Stanback has been making progress in his physical therapy regimen. According to RSHS athletic trainer Mitch Hadinger, “the doctors are pleased with his progress” nearly two months after Stanback’s surgery.
The plan over the next couple of months for Stanback is to continue his rehab and work to get back to 100 percent ahead of graduating in June and heading to Spartanburg for football workouts. Hadinger explained that basketball season if off the table, but he may return for the spring sports season with the Richmond track team. But Standback isn’t rushing the healing process, but he also can’t wait to be on the field as a Terrier next fall.
“Rehab is going pretty good and Coach Had kicked my butt today,” Stanback laughed. “I told him that I wanted to workout, and he’s got me doing leg presses, body squats and firing up my hamstrings and my quads.
“I just want to keep getting better,” he added. “The doctor told me I can start running again in five weeks, so I’m really excited about that.”
Stanback will join the recruiting class of 2023 and plans to major in the Wofford’s pre-engineering program. The next step for Stanback will be to attend Wofford’s open house on Friday, Nov. 9.
