Five-star QB names final four
Malik Henry had a tremendous jump-start on the recruiting process since so many elite programs offered early and he toured the country this summer hoping to find the right spot.
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The 2016 five-star quarterback from Westlake Village (Calif.) Westlake significantly trimmed his list on Thursday with
Henry, who looked good this summer at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge Presented by Under Armour, said he could make his decision in the next couple weeks. Rivals.com rates Henry as the second-best pro-style quarterback in the class behind only recent
Georgia commit Jacob Eason.
The only Pac-12 team to make the cut was UCLA and Henry said he likes the offense, he has a good relationship with position coach
Taylor Mazzone and there is something special about possibly playing in his hometown.
"I have a good relationship with coach Taylor Mazzone," Henry said. "I think their offense fits me really well. Just playing in front of the hometown is exciting and something I've always wanted to do maybe."
Working with Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur twice this off-season definitely had an influence on Henry, the top-rated 2016 prospect in California. That could play a major influence as Henry inches closer to a decision.
"Coach LaFleur, the quarterbacks coach, really knows his stuff," Henry said. "I got to work with him at the Sound Mind, Sound Body Camp and the Notre Dame Irish Invasion. We developed a great relationship and he really knows his stuff. Their offense is a pretty good fit."
Ohio State and Florida State are also in the final four and Henry received some major praise on both visits. The comparisons to
Braxton Miller and Jameis Winston are evident and that's one reason why Henry is such a coveted prospect by both schools.
"Ohio State is on me pretty tough," Henry said. "Coach (Urban) Meyer is a great coach. Coach (Tom) Herman I got to work with him a lot and I really like his style and his work ethic. I also really like their offense because it's not a pro-style offense but unless Braxton has to make a play downfield with his feet he stays in the pocket.
"(Florida State) went there (with Winston comparisons). I got that all the time when I was down there. They compared me to Jameis and their offense, they have a lot of formations that we do at Westlake so I'd fit well in their offense also."
The five-star quarterback threw for 2,362 yards with 21 touchdowns in his sophomore season.
Adam Gorney is a West Region football recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. You can click here to follow him on Twitter.
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