Florida State true freshman quarterback Malik Henry will transfer from Florida State, his father, Marchell, confirmed in a text message to Warchant late Monday evening.
It is unclear where Henry will play next season. He'll have four years of eligibility remaining after receiving a redshirt in 2016. Rated by Rivals as a four-star prospect, he was the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback -- and the No. 34 overall prospect -- in the nation.
Henry played his sophomore and junior seasons at Westlake Oaks Christian (Calif.) and was briefly enrolled at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., before returning west to play his senior year at Long Beach Poly. He threw for 1,410 yards, 16 touchdowns and one interception as a senior. He would end his high school career playing in the Under Armour All-American Game.
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An early enrollee, Henry showed flashes of promise during FSU's spring camp. He and redshirt freshman Deondre Francois received increased reps with senior Sean Maguire sidelined by ankle surgery.
The 6-foot-2 and 185-pound Henry completed 15 of 22 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns during FSU's spring game in Orlando. He entered preseason camp fourth on the depth chart but was then suspended in August for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Henry returned in mid-September but fell to fifth on the depth chart behind freshman walk-on Jake Rizzo.
Henry was never really expected to play immediately. Francois and Maguire competed to become the team's starting quarterback, a job ultimately won by Francois. Maguire was his backup, while redshirt sophomore J.J. Cosentino was third on the depth chart.
Francois affirmed his place as the team's starting quarterback for both the immediate and foreseeable future after throwing for 3,128 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions this season.
Henry's role with the team started to come into question throughout the course of the season. Although the Seminoles had five quarterbacks on the roster, there were times when Henry was absent and the team only dressed four quarterbacks.
FSU will still have Francois, Maguire, Rizzo and Cosentino when it plays Michigan on Dec. 30 in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
The Seminoles will return two scholarship quarterbacks in Francois and Cosentino next season while Rizzo will be a sophomore. The 'Noles are expected to welcome three-star prospects Bailey Hockman and James Blackman as signees for next season.
Hockman, a one-time Georgia commit, is a left-handed quarterback listed at 6-2 and 195 pounds. He threw for 2,604 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions and led Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern to the Class 7A state quarterfinals. He's expected to be an early enrollee.
Blackman impressed Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher with his performance at one of Fisher's summer camps. It led to Fisher immediately offering the 6-foot-4 signal-caller, and Blackman would later pledge to the Seminoles. Blackman led Belle Glade (Fla.) Glades Central to the Class 4A regional semifinals.
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