Fisher says FSU had planned for life without Malik Henry
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher both confirmed Malik Henry's departure and portions of his plan to reinforce the team's quarterback depth for next season.
Henry's father, Marchell, confirmed Monday evening his son would leave FSU after one season. The university had not officially acknowledged Henry's decision to transfer until Fisher was asked about it after Thursday's practice.
Rated by Rivals as a four-star prospect, Henry was an early enrollee who arrived in January after starring in the Under Armour All-American Game. Henry showed flashes of his promise in the spring and threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns in FSU's spring game.
Fisher's plan was to redshirt Henry and have him develop over the 2016 season. His role and future with the team would later come into question. Henry was suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules in preseason camp and did not return until mid-September. FSU, despite having five quarterback on the roster, would have games when it only dressed four.
"We've expected this for a while in our recruiting and we've planned for it," Fisher said. "We wanted to keep Malik here. He's an outstanding young man and I wish him nothing but the best. He's a great young man.
"But we've had our plan and had it scheduled for a while."
FSU loses experienced redshirt senior quarterback Sean Maguire to graduation. Maguire backed up redshirt freshman Deondre Francois, who threw for 3,128 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions this season.
The belief was once Maguire graduated, Henry would become Francois' backup.
With Henry gone, it leaves redshirt sophomore J.J. Cosentino and freshman walk-on Jake Rizzo as the only returning quarterbacks aside from Francois. Cosentino is 7 of 19 for 46 yards and a touchdown in two seasons. Rizzo, who led national and state power Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas to a state title in 2014, has yet to enter a game.
It's expected Cosentino and Rizzo will likely battle throughout the spring and fall camps to become Francois' backup. FSU will add three-star prospects Bailey Hockman and James Blackman.
Hockman, a one-time Georgia commit, will enroll in January. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, he threw for 2,604 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions to lead Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern to the Class 7A state quarterfinals.
Blackman, who is 6-4, caught Fisher's attention with an impressive showing at a summer camp. Blackman recently led Belle Glade (Fla.) Glades Central to the Florida Class 4A regional semifinals.
"They have to step up," Fisher said of Cosentino and Rizzo. "That's an opportuntiy. When things happen to other guys, that's opportunities for other guys and that's why they're here on scholarship.
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