Four-star MSU commit has a lot of interest in Florida
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Malik Heath has a big decision to make. Will he sign with Mississippi State, the school he has been committed to for over a year and a half or will he take his recruitment to February and visit other schools next month?
He was asked that question Monday once he checked in for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game.
"I do not plan on signing during the early signing period right now," said Heath. "I have official visits lined up for January and I plan to take those, so right now, I plan to wait until February before I sign."
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The pressure is there to sign early. Heath admitted his mind could change on this subject.
"I am getting a lot of pressure from coaches, from family and a lot of people, but I want to take my visits. Things could change next week. I am thinking a lot about it this week, so it could change, but right now I do not plan to sign."
If he doesn't sign early, that will give schools more time to flip the four-star wide receiver out of Jackson (Miss.) Callaway.
According to Heath, he is planning to take official visits to Florida, Louisville, Ole Miss and Tennessee next month.
The one out of that quartet most are talking about is Florida. The head coach he committed to in 2016 is now coaching the Gators and that has made things interesting.
"Florida has been coming hard after me," said Heath. "I liked Florida a while ago when Tim Tebow was there, but it is mainly about Dan Mullen and coach G (Billy Gonzales) now.
"I hear from coach Mullen almost every day and we have a great relationship. It is just something different down there at Florida and I want to check it out. I have a lot of interest in them and they are up there with Mississippi State."
Ole Miss has stayed in this race too. They were in to see Heath Sunday and the NCAA sanctions have not hurt their chances.
"It really doesn’t affect my decision, because the bowl doesn’t mean nothing. You’re still getting broadcast national. You’re still going to get looked at from the NFL regardless.
"The bowls and stuff, that doesn’t mean nothing to me. I’ve been knowing coach Peeler since he was at California and now he’s at Ole Miss. He offered me at Ole Miss. I’ve just got a personal relationship with all the coaches that are recruiting me hard right now."
The Rebels appear to be in the mix, but just outside the top two at this time along with the Cardinals and Volunteers. The pressure is on by many close to Heath to sign early and to stay with the in-state Bulldogs.
It is something definitely on his mind.
"I am thinking about these things a lot right now. The coaching changes doesn’t affect my decision at all. I’m just trying to go in and play and go to the NFL.
"It doesn’t affect me because I plan on going to work every day to earn my spot either way it goes, even with Dan Mullen leaving. I plan on learning, earning my spot and working hard.
"The most important thing is me just fitting in. I don't want to push myself to fit, but just for it to be natural. That is what it will come down to.
"I am still committed to Mississippi State with Florida right there with them. I still have a lot to think about."
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