The Tar Heels 2020 class is off to one of the best starts of any recruiting class in school history. That strong start was added to on Wednesday night when the Heels added their third 4✮ quarterback prospect in as many recruiting cycles after going three cycles with landing a 4✮ gunslinger.
That commitment came in the form of 2020 4✮ DUAL Malik Hornsby via Twitter just after 7:00 following a tweet earlier in the day where he previewed some big news. The rising senior has put together quite a career at Fort Bend Marshall High School in Missouri City, TX. Last season, as a junior, Hornsby threw for 1,969 yards and posted a 23-2 TD-INT ratio while completing 58.6% of his 128 pass attempts. Hornsby also had a strong year on the ground, rushing for 772 yards and 13 touchdowns. Hornsby would help Fort Bend Marshall advance all the way to the UIL 5A Division II championship game before falling to another Texas powerhouse.
Hornsby will give the Heels a dynamic dual threat option at quarterback when he arrives either next January or next fall. His 4.59 speed makes him a problem for most of the defenses he faced on tape, as he was able to race away from most defensive lineman and linebackers. That speed is also a big help in scramble situations, an area Hornsby succeeds in on film. Hornsby made a couple of strong throws on the run and does a good job of keeping his focus downfield even when there is pressure. Hornsby has good strength and throw a very good deep ball, something that is strongly highlighted on tape. At 6’3, 185 lbs., Hornsby is a bit undersized and will have to add size when he arrives on campus, but that should keep fans from being excited about this talented signal caller.
With Hornsby’s commitment, the Heels 2020 class now has thirteen members, giving them the fifth largest class in the 2020 cycle at this time. The Heels remain 9th in the 247Sports overall class rankings. The class also remains 4th in the ACC.