Florida State Football Recruiting News: Malik Henry, top QB in Class of '16, Passes on Ohio State, Notre Dame and More
ByMalik Henry, the top-rated quarterback in the recruiting class of 2016, has committed to the Florida State University (FSU).
He appeared on ESPN U's "College Football Daily" to announce his decision, which included schools like Michigan State, Notre Dame, Auburn, Texas, Ohio State, UCLA and more.
"It was a tough decision, but I finally realized it was Florida State a week or two ago, after talking to Coach Fisher and reminiscing about my trip there," Henry told ESPN. "I felt comfortable at Florida State and around Tallahassee."
At six-foot-three and 185 pounds, Henry has a terrific frame for a young passer that should only get better as he matures physically. Evaluators at ESPN love his delivery, which is "smooth and quick," a key trait that is rare among young QBs.
He is from Westlake Village, Calif., but said his decision did not depend on location since he has family in Ohio and Tampa. Like FSU's current QB, Jameis Winston, Henry plays football and baseball, which he indicated is something he would like to do in college.
Tomahawk Nation also praised Henry's arm, noting that he has the ability to effectively change the velocity of his throws to make short touch passes and downfield bombs. At the end of the day Henry is a dual-threat QB, but like Winston, he may be better suited in the pocket.
Yahoo Sports ranked Henry as the second overall QB in his class, but their evaluators agree that his talent is certainly worthy of a five-star rating. 247Sports.com did have Henry first overall among passers, but as an underclassmen there is not the same depth of evaluation as there is for a graduating senior.
"I felt comfortable around coach Jimbo Fisher. I think he's a great quarterback coach, he knows his stuff and their offense is explosive," Henry said on the ESPN U show. "I think I can see myself in their offense."