Malachi Fields Making the Most of his Opportunities During Key Stretch
When Malachi Fields was asked to give two words on his relationship with CJ Carr, he didn’t hesitate.
“Trust and (consistency).”
After four years at Virginia, the senior wide receiver is thriving in his new role in South Bend, becoming a deep threat for his freshman quarterback. It didn’t take long into Fields arriving at Notre Dame for the Virginia native to develop a relationship with Carr.
"Really, when I first got here, we got straight to work,” Fields said. “Getting to know him on the field and off the field as well. And then coming into camp, that was really when we started talking about where I like these throws, where he feels more comfortable throwing certain things. So it was like that first week of camp, getting those conversations in."
With two regular season games and a potential CFP berth left in Fields collegiate career, the receiver is hitting his stride with the Irish.
Fields is coming off his two best performances in South Bend with a four catch, 97 yard outing against Navy and he also hauled in seven catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns against Pitt.
He also made a career highlight against the Panthers, rising up over a pair of defenders and snagging a one-handed catch.
“It definitely looked a little crazy,” Fields said. “I kind of blacked out and just saw a ball and just trying to make a play; and then looking back at it, I'm like, all right, that's kind of wild.
"I think personally it was my best catch for sure."
Fields and the Irish don’t typically practice making that kind of catch, it’s a type of play that can’t be taught.
"We really don't have a routine working on, one-handed crazy catches, because most of the time it's easier to catch it with two,” Fields said. “That was just something crazy that happened. I mean, we get catches out there all the time, but usually, with two-handed work on over-the-shoulder balls, all the time; but that was just, I don't know, it's freaky."
As the clock ticks towards the postseason, Fields believes his relationship on the field with Carr is continuing to develop.
"I think it just continues to grow, each week in practice as we're getting out here and getting the looks from the guys, just getting the extra work that we need,” Fields said. “It's just continuing to build each week."
Fields has never appeared in a CFP game before, or even played on a team with a chance to get there. Now just what may be two wins away from playing for an opportunity to win a national championship, Fields is just focused on this week.
“As far as playoffs, we're just trying to make the most of each opportunity,” Fields said. “Every game from here on out is championship level, so we're just trying to continue to grind, to go to work on Saturdays and make that run deep in the playoffs."
