Malik Clark is bringing his electric speed to Tallahassee.
Clark, the No. 49-ranked WR in the country out of Rock Hill (S.C.) High School in South Carolina, committed to the Seminoles on Thursday. The four-star pass-catcher revealed his decision live at his high school auditorium and broadcasted it across the country via the Rivals Instagram account.
Florida State beat out North Carolina and South Carolina State for Clark, a 6-foot-2.5, 183-pound wide receiver with bonafide speed to burn (10.52-second 100M; 4.39-second 40 time). Clark also has a 34.1-inch vertical jump, a 10' 2.5" broad jump and a 4.31-second short shuttle.
After offering in May, the Seminoles quickly climbed the ladder for Clark.
"It was a difficult decision and it took a lot of long, hard thinking, and it came down to where I felt like I would have the best chance to compete for championships and make it to the league," Clark told Rivals of his decision.
"The winning culture and the energy down in Tallahassee is really what I'm looking for in a school," he added. "My work ethic and desire to win will fit right in down there."
The Seminoles were behind South Carolina and North Carolina in offering Clark, but wasted little time closing the gap.
Clark was in Tallahassee in May and again June for an official visit, and Florida State started to separate from the pack soon after.
"Going into the official visit I wanted to see how I would fit in around the team and staff since I'm not from Florida," he explained. "That was quickly answered as soon as I got there. It felt like nothing but home."
Part of that comfortability at Florida State can be attributed to head coach Mike Norvell and WR coach Ron Dugans.
Norvell's intensity matched that of Clark's and Dugans' attention to detail was a major selling point.
"Coach Dugans was very detailed about how he felt like he could improve my game and how I was the missing piece to completing a great WR core," Clark explained.
"Coach Norvell really stood out with his energy and enthusiasm. He was always on 100 wherever we went, no matter what we did. He wanted to coach me because he really liked who I am as a person and how I'd fit into his program because he could tell I was exactly what he was looking for in a player and also as a person "