Lincoln’s Maliek Denmark shares life of being homeless, D1 offers
Lincoln’s senior receiver Maliek Denmark shares his life story about moving from Miami, overcoming being homeless and becoming a Division-one prospect.
- Lincoln High School wide receiver Maliek Denmark overcame homelessness and financial struggles throughout his childhood.
- After being ineligible to play for a year, Denmark returned for his senior season and found a new position at wide receiver.
- Denmark’s on-field success and 3.9 GPA have led to multiple Division I college football offers.
Throughout his childhood, Maliek Denmark has had to rise to the occasion. Lincoln High’s star wide receiver had to overcome different battles on and off the field.
Originally from Miami, he suffered financial hardship and was homeless at 10 years old.
He would often stay with either a coach or a relative. He now lives in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with 12 family members, including six of his siblings.
Football and school were his two outlets, and he would not let his personal life distract him from his goals. He is motivated to be his best on the field and in the classroom every day, refusing to fail even when the odds are against him.
“It’s what’s pushing me everyday,” Denmark said.
“I know I’m not coming from the most wealthy background, so I know I have to work extremely harder than most other who has more than what I have now, and I know I want to be more efficient, so I continue to work to that.”
Missing one year of football gives Maliek Denmark a ‘reality check’
Denmark enrolled at Lincoln in his freshman year, but for football reasons, he left and returned to Miami in hopes of seeking playing time at quarterback.
Denmark played multiple positions throughout his football career, but being a QB was his preferred position.
“I felt me moving down is quitting,” Denmark reflected.
“Basically, running away from adversity, but now that I’m back facing that adversity, I just feel that it’s helping me build resilience and grit.”
Denmark was nearly at a crossroads with football after he was ruled ineligible for a year. Despite the setback, he remained determined to succeed in the game he grew up loving.
He would train all year round before he returned to Lincoln to play in his senior year. To Denmark, being away from the game was the best thing that happened to him.
“Leaving and not playing for a year helped me. It gave me a reality check,” Denmark said.
“I came back to the team because I was lifting and all that, separate from the team, staying in physical shape and things like that.”
How Maliek Denmark settled at wide receiver
When he played for the Trojans, Denmark was viewed as an athlete, playing both ways for head coach Matthew Jackson. Even though his heart was set on playing QB, he was open to playing anywhere on the field.
“The expectation for me was to become an athlete and help the team out anywhere I needed to be,” Denmark said. “As far as self-expectation, I just keep doing what I’m doing and play better.”
Jackson saw the potential in Denmark. He believed he would have an impact as an athlete. Denmark found his position at wide receiver, a role he had never played since he was in grade school.
“Maliek is a very special kid. He’s a heck of an athlete who we line up in a lot of different spots,” Jackson said. “He plays offense, defense and special teams for us. Maliek is as tough as they come.”
Denmark finally had a breakout game in Week 1 against Niceville when he recorded nine catches for 178 yards and a touchdown. He leads the Trojans with 24 catches, 355 receiving yards, and 4 TDs this season, while Lincoln is 4-2 heading into Friday’s matchup against Chiles.
“I feel like I improved in making the right reads at receiver instead of just running the route to get open,” Denmark said. “I learned to do that more.”
Denmark started one game at quarterback on Sept. 9 against Ware County when the original starter, Taylor Jacobs Jr, was inactive. Denmark used his QB background to his advantage while learning the wide receiver position, and even helped his teammates.
“I wouldn’t say I hit the field running, though,” Denmark said. “When I switched to receiver, I can use QB in a way to help with the receivers.”
Maliek Denmark emerges as D-I prospect
As the season progressed, Denmark gained notice from colleges.
After receiving a few Division III and NAIA offers over the summer, he finally caught the attention of Division I schools.
FAMU gave the senior receiver his first FCS offer. The next day, it was Mississippi Valley State. On Oct. 3, he landed an offer from Southern Mississippi.
“It feels great now that I know that I can play at the level that I am now and attract some colleges,” Denmark said. “It feels good, but now I know I have to keep working, not be too complacent.”
Denmark is continuing to draw more interest from other schools, but has yet to commit. With options on the table, Denmark wants to make sure that whatever school he decides on.
“I want to be developed more academically and as an athlete,” Denmark said. “I want to be with coaches who want me there.”
Maliek Denmark commits to education, wants to become a mentor
While he is starting as a receiver for the Trojans, Denmark holds a 3.9 grade-point average while taking AP courses. He also thanked his mentors, Dominic Yates, his uncle, and Mikail Trigg, who was his eighth-grade science teacher at Lincoln.
“When I was going through homelessness, they were on my side and keeping me out of trouble, making sure my head was still on,” Denmark said. “They basically got me in the right direction.”
Trigg, a FAMU alum, treats her scholar students like their own, and Denmark was special to her. Knowing he was homeless at around that time, she would utilize her resources to make sure that he, along with the other impoverished students, was well taken care of.
“My support system, with me being a teacher, is always very high,” Trigg told the Tallahassee Democrat.
“So they always had snacks. They always had food. They always had different things like that, and when I transitioned out of Griffin to Lincoln, he told me how he can get what he needs, or I’ll introduce him to cold brew and stuff like that, and I’ll cook and I’ll bring him food. I always had a microwave in my room. It just started out, like, little things like that. He was always super appreciative.”
Regardless of which college he decides to attend, he has his sights set on studying behavioral science.
Denmark has hopes of becoming a mentor himself. While wanting to stay involved in football, he wants to set an example for the black youth who come from a similar background to his.
“I know I want to be a mentor to young, Black kids, African American boys who grew up struggling like me or who grew up in a troubled background, so I can help out and give back,” Denmark said.
Jackson is proud of what Denmark has become in his high school career and looks forward to what the future holds for the senior after he graduates.
“His future in both football and life is very bright,” Jackson said.
“He’s a determined young man who knows what he wants out of life. That’s not the norm for a kid his age and circumstances. The best part about him is that he refuses to be another statistic.”
Lincoln’s football 2025 schedule
- Aug. 22 vs. Niceville, W, 36-29
- Aug. 29 vs. Madison County, W, 23-12
- Sept. 5 at Nease, L, 47-10
- Sept. 19 at Ware County, L, 42-9
- Sept. 26 vs. Leon, W, 70-0
- Oct. 3 vs. Gadsden County, W, 30-21
- Oct. 10 at Chiles at 7 p.m.
- Oct. 17 at Trinity Christian Academy at 7 p.m.
- Oct. 24 at Godby at 7 p.m.
- Oct. 31 at Rickards at 7 p.m.
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.