Florida WR likes Bearcats
2015 receiver Malik Thornton of Pahokee (Fla.) has set his top five as Cincinnati, Bowling Green, UAB, Florida International and Florida Atlantic.
"When I met them I was comfortable around them and they told me they'd help me not just with football, but with education," said Thornton, who stands at 6-foot-4, 175 pounds. "I think they have a good football team and I want to help them."
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He hasn't set a date to visit Cincinnati yet.
Bowling Green is No. 2 on Thornton's list because he said he was promised a starting spot. While UAB hasn't promised him a starting spot, he likes the promise of what going there could lead to.
"They told me about their players that made it to the league," he said. "I know they can get me there too if I put in the hard work."
Florida International is in the mix because they're close to home, and he likes Florida Atlantic because his cousin, who played linebacker there in the mid-2000s, has told Thornton a lot of good things about the school.
But for right now, Cincinnati is the school to beat.
"They have a strong lead," he said. "I just want to go there and make something happen, take them to a championship."
Other schools Thornton has had contact with include Florida, Miami and Wake Forest. Thornton said former Detroit Lions defensive back and Pahokee alum Alphonso Smith has put in a good word with the Demon Deacons on Thornton's behalf.