Malcolm Koonce
refer to caption
Koonce with the Buffalo Bulls in 2017
No. 51 – Las Vegas Raiders
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1998-06-06) June 6, 1998
Peekskill, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, New York)
College:Buffalo (2017–2020)
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 3 / Pick: 79
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× First-team All-MAC (2019, 2020)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 10, 2023
Total tackles:33
Sacks:10.0
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:0
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Malcolm Koonce (born June 6, 1998) is an American football defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Buffalo and was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Early life and high school

Koonce grew up in Peekskill, New York, and attended Archbishop Stepinac High School. Although his primary sport at first was rugby, he switched his focus to football after realizing that it could earn him a college scholarship. In 2015, he led Stepinac to a New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association championship.[1]

After graduating, he completed a post-graduate year at Milford Academy in New Berlin, New York.[2]

College career

Koonce was a member of the Buffalo Bulls for four seasons. He served primarily as a backup for his first two seasons.[3] Koonce was named first-team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) after recording 34 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and nine sacks in his junior season.[4] He was named the Defensive MVP of the 2019 Bahamas Bowl after a two sack performance against the Charlotte 49ers.[5] Koonce repeated as a first-team All-MAC selection as a senior after recording 30 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks after playing in six games due to the MAC's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.[6][7] He became only the fourth UB player to be invited to play in the Senior Bowl.[1]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span
6 ft 2+1⁄4 in
(1.89 m)		 249 lb
(113 kg)		 33+3⁄8 in
(0.85 m)		 9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)
All values from Pro Day[8][9]

2021

Koonce was selected in the third round with the 79th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.[10] The Raiders had received the 79th pick used to select Koonce in a trade that sent Rodney Hudson to the Arizona Cardinals.[11] On July 23, 2021, Koonce signed his four-year rookie contract with Las Vegas.[12]

Koonce was activated for Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers but did not appear in the game. He was next activated before Week 13 following an injury to linebacker Carl Nassib.[13] Koonce made his NFL debut on December 5 and, despite taking the field for only seven plays on defense and four on special teams, recorded a sack of Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke.[14][15]

2023

Koonce had a break out year in 2023, opposite Maxx Crosby on the Raiders defensive line. By week 14 against Minnesota Vikings, Koonce had roughly doubled his playing time under interim head coach Antonio Pierce. Koonce had more quarterback hits in weeks 14-16 than he had the rest of the season combined.[16]

Koonce had his best game as a pro in a Christmas Day divisional matchup against the rival Kansas City Chiefs at Kansas City. The Raiders needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Koonce harassed Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes all game, finishing with career highs in pressures (8) and sacks (3). [17]

References

  1. 1 2 Lenzi, Rachel (December 24, 2020). "UB's Malcolm Koonce grows into anchor of defensive line". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Talbot, Damond (May 1, 2020). "2021 NFL Draft Prospect: Malcolm Koonce, DE, University at Buffalo".
  3. ↑ "Former UB defensive end Malcolm Koonce ready to tackle the NFL". WKBW. April 24, 2021.
  4. ↑ "UB's Malcolm Koonce grows into anchor of defensive line". The Buffalo News. December 24, 2020.
  5. ↑ "30-in-30: UB defensive end Malcolm Koonce". April 10, 2021.
  6. ↑ Callihan, Schuyler. "80 Prospects in 80 Days: Buffalo EDGE Malcolm Koonce". Sports Illustrated Carolina Panthers News, Analysis and More.
  7. ↑ "With Newfound Pressure on Bulls, Koonce Keeps Things Light". spectrumlocalnews.com.
  8. ↑ "Malcolm Koonce Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  9. ↑ "2021 Draft Scout Malcolm Koonce, Buffalo NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Raiders select Malcolm Koonce with the No. 79 pick". Raiders.com. April 30, 2021.
  11. ↑ Callari, Jenna (April 30, 2021). "UB's Malcolm Koonce taken by Las Vegas Raiders in 3rd round of NFL Draft". WKBW.com. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  12. ↑ "DE Malcolm Koonce signs rookie deal". raiders.com. Raiders Public Relations. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  13. ↑ Damien, Levi (5 December 2021). "Raiders Week 13 inactives vs Washington: Rookie DE Malcolm Koonce could make NFL debut". Raiders Wire. USA Today. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  14. ↑ Edwards, Levi (December 5, 2021). "Quick Snap: Josh Jacobs scores lone touchdown in Raiders' last-minute loss". Las Vegas Raiders. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  15. ↑ "Washington Football Team at Las Vegas Raiders - December 5th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  16. ↑ https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KoonMa00/gamelog/2023/
  17. ↑ https://x.com/nextgenstats/status/1739395197388370170?s=46
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