Malachi Fields: From Hometown Hero to New Irish Hope

As fall camp rolls on, a name that has been consistently mentioned among top performers is Virginia transfer wide receiver Malachi Fields. We explore the highly-rated transfer’s career up to this point and what Notre Dame can expect from the wideout below:

Art by The Irish Tribune

Raised in Charlottesville, VA, Fields attended Monticello High School, where he played QB and CB and ran track. As a junior, the young quarterback combined for over 1,700 yards and 16 touchdowns. Due to COVID-19 cancelling his senior season, Fields ended up fairly under-recruited as a three-star athlete. Despite offers from Liberty and various FCS programs, the Charlottesville native decided to stay home and committed to Virginia as a part of the 2021 recruiting class to play receiver.

In his first season with the Cavaliers, Fields saw limited playing time, reeling in 11 passes for 172 yards in 11 game appearances. The freshman did flash his potential in a 34-33 win at Louisville when he finished with 60 yards on three receptions. For those interested, he did not record any stats in UVA’s 28-3 loss to Notre Dame.

The next summer, Fields unfortunately broke a metatarsal in his left foot that required surgery, forcing him to miss nearly the entire year and pushing back a possible breakout campaign. He was able to come back in the last game of the season versus Pittsburgh, and he made the most of his opportunity, recording five catches for 58 yards, including his first career touchdown, and the Cavaliers’ lone score of the game.

Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today!

Fields was able to build off that season-ending performance and put together a solid junior year. After starting all 12 games, he finished second on the team with 58 receptions and 811 receiving yards with five touchdowns, earning an All-ACC honorable mention nod. The junior wideout had 11 games with 60 or more receiving yards, and his 67.6 yards per game ranked fourth in the ACC. He had six games with five or more receptions, including an impressive six-catch outing versus Virginia Tech which led to a season-high 89 yards and two touchdowns.

Last season, Fields was the Cavaliers' leading receiver with 55 catches for 808 yards and five touchdowns while starting all 12 games. The Captain’s 67.3 receiving yards per game ranked eighth in the ACC as he earned Third Team All-Conference honors. Fields finished the year with three games featuring at least five receptions and 100 yards. The senior’s best performance occurred in a 31-30 win at Wake Forest when he set career-highs with 11 receptions and 148 yards. Notre Dame fans received a taste of what Fields is capable of during the Irish’s victory over Virginia as he led the game’s receivers with four receptions for 81 yards. Along with being recognized as a team captain and All-ACC selection, Fields was also voted as the team’s offensive MVP following the season.

Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle Here

Given Fields’ emergence as a true top-end wideout following two very productive seasons at Virginia, he was faced with an important decision: Go pro, stay in Charlottesville, or enter the transfer portal? 

On December 17th, Fields officially entered the transfer portal, leaving UVA with the ninth-most receiving yards in school history, seeking an opportunity to play for a CFP Championship while raising his draft stock. Just six days later, the Irish landed their potential WR1 when Fields announced his decision to spend his final collegiate season in South Bend.

So what can Notre Dame fans expect from the Virginia standout? If you look strictly at the numbers, you see back-to-back 800-plus yard seasons with below-average QB play from the duo of Anthony Colandrea and Tony Muskett. It is fair to expect a similar season in terms of production given the Irish’s circumstances. Some positives that Fields will experience include improved QB play, whether it be CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey, and Coach Mike Denbrock’s offensive system. Something interesting to watch will be to see how he fits surrounded by legitimate pass weapons in Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison, Will Pauling, and Eli Raridon. This will be new to Fields as the only truly talented receiving threat he has shared a field with was Malik Washington in 2023. The number of targets Denbrock schemes for Fields will ultimately be what determines how productive the 6’4 pass-catcher will be.

Regardless of statistics, landing Fields gives whoever is named the starting QB a reliable and veteran pass option from week one. With his elite mix of size and skills, the new Irish WR already has a solid draft profile, and his stock should only rise as Notre Dame continues winning, garnering attention, and playing in primetime. For the first time in what feels like a long time, the Irish have a ‘dawg’ in Fields who is going to go up and come down with the ball almost every time, and that is something to look forward to.

Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun