There were a multitude of questions regarding whether or not we would see one of the top-ranked quarterbacks in action for his junior season due to UIL transfer rules, but things panned out well for four-star quarterback Malik Hornsby. So well, in fact, that he and his Fort Bend Marshall teammates nearly completed a perfect season.
Hornsby didn’t see the field until the fifth game of the 2018 season, but still managed to assemble strikingly impressive numbers, as he threw for 1,970 yards, rushed for 758 yards, and crossed the end zone 37 total times.
A 15-1 record with his only loss coming in the state championship game is a great indication that winning is already an essential factor to Hornsby’s game and that overall team success is vital to him.
“This past season started off being hell for me, but I held my head high though,” Hornsby expressed to BON. “My mom never let me put myself down. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to play, but by the grace of God he blessed me, so I was able to play. Had a hell of a season and went 15-1. It didn’t end how I wanted it to end, but we will be back. This offseason I plan on getting to work and getting our chemistry down more, but to be a part of a new team and a new family was great.”
The recruiting trail has been good to Hornsby thus far. Power 5 programs realize the type of talent Hornsby possesses and have pulled the trigger on the elusive runner with a cannon for an arm. To date, Hornsby owns 17 offers with Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas A&M, and Texas among those he’s giving a closer look into right now.
That said, Hornsby’s taking things slowly.
“My recruiting process is going great right now,” Hornsby said. “I mean, I’ve been taking my time with it. I have a ton of colleges trying to talk to me right now. I want to start getting some offers from West Coast programs.”
The Longhorns extended an offer to Hornsby last May and he’s since been able to make several visits to Austin. That being said, the Texas staff as a whole hasn’t necessarily been recruiting Hornsby extremely hard, but the efforts of offensive coordinator Tim Beck are keeping the Horns in the fold for the coveted quarterback.
“My relationship with Texas is cool, Coach Beck texted me yesterday,” Hornsby said. “My relationship with Coach Beck is strong, as a staff, it’s not that strong. But individually with Tim Beck it’s good.”
Although things are still gradually building from a relationship standpoint between Hornsby and the Horns, the elite quarterback still holds Texas in high regards.
A fellow Houston native who excelled in burnt orange has much to do with that.
“Texas stands out very gracefully for me,” Hornsby said. “You know, it’s the home of Vince Young — I watched him growing up. I feel like if was to go there, I would be a good fit.”
Texas’ true freshmen quarterbacks Cameron Rising and Casey Thompson recently entered their names into the NCAA transfer portal and are currently exploring their options while still keeping the door open to return back to Austin. Luckily, the Longhorns signed an elite 2019 talent in Port Neches-Groves product Roschon Johnson and already hold a commitment from a home-grown 2020 prospect in Lake Travis standout Hudson Card.
However, given the potential attrition Texas may be set to suffer with Rising and Thompson evaluating their futures, the Longhorns will likely be looking to add another quarterback in this upcoming class. Fortunately for the Horns, the fact that there is already one quarterback committed isn’t an issue for Hornsby, who said he’d welcome the competition.
“It does not play a part in my book to say if I want to commit there,” Hornsby said of Card being committed. “I believe in myself and if I want something, I’ll go get it. We would have to battle it out if I decide to go there.”
The Longhorns finished the season with a 10-4 record and a Sugar Bowl victory over the Georgia Bulldogs. That in itself was a major plus for Hornsby and his overall thoughts about Texas going forward.
“As a team, they battled good this season,” Hornsby said. “They beat an SEC school, so the heart is there.”
Hornsby brings a substantial amount of electricity to the game every time he touches the field. He’s truly a dynamic playmaker that exceeds the definition of what a dual-threat quarterback is. Hornsby has the speed and elusiveness to take it the distance every time the ball is snapped, but his patience in the pocket and willingness to wait for the open target down the field makes him a lethal presence. Delivering the ball to his wide receivers in some unbelievable windows and winning with his teammates is what Hornsby prides himself on.
At 6’2, 175 pounds, Hornsby is ranked as the nation’s No. 90 prospect, the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the country, and as the No. 12 player in the state, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.