Tall Receiver Malik McClain Red Hot on Recruiting Trail

A name for college football fans to know in the class of 2021, Malik McClain is the talk of IMG Academy Football.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- As SI All-American went from the IMG Academy football locker room, to the state of the art weight room, spacious cafeteria and everywhere in between, Malik McClain would come up. 

It could have been a member of the operations staff, coaching staff or even another player and the potential of the 6-foot-4, 197-pound wide receiver native to south Alabama came up. 

College football programs have surely taken notice of the two-sport star, who also competed as a varsity basketball player back at Daphne (Ala.) High School. Double digit scholarship offers have already come in and more appear to be on the way. 

"A big part of it is my size, I'm fairly tall for a receiver," he said with a big smile. "I'm athletic, too, so people take that and run with it."

The latest program to join the list is Maryland, which made the move while McClain took an unofficial visit to College Park last weekend, which turned out to be the final weekend of unofficial visits before the NCAA implemented its new dead period.  

"It was pretty good," he said, sporting a Maryland wrist band. "They offered me that day. It's nice up there. I'd never been anywhere up north, so everything was new. They're basically saying they're trying to win the Big Ten championship and the guys that are going there are great football players. 

"They have great athletes and personalities over there. Coach Lock (Mike Locksley), he is going to make you a better person."

McCLain, who splashed on Friday nights as a deep threat wide receiver before averaging 14 points and seven rebounds per game on the hardwood, says he is in no rush to cut his long list of suitors. As it grows, he characterizes each option based on where the program is located.

"I always say it from the south up," he said. "Florida State, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Maryland, Penn State. I think as the year goes on I'm going to keep everything in variables and keep looking. 

"I'm looking at the receiver coach relationship, head coach relationship, location, too. That's important for my family in case they want to visit."

Florida State is the first program named by McClain because he grew up in Crestview, Fla., just 150 miles or so from Tallahassee. His rise as a prospect, however, came once he made the move to south Alabama. 

It means time at FSU as a prospect has been non existent to this point.

"I've never been over there," he said. "My brother's friend is up there and we're going to see him soon."

McClain wants to hit as many programs on the list as possible before settling on any favorites, something he doesn't envision happening until the 2020 season begins. He will then make a commitment and graduate from IMG Academy in December. 

Coaches at IMG expect more programs to enter the race for the rising senior recruit well before he suits up as an Ascender for the first time. 

Two not yet on the offer list, Alabama and Clemson, represent the programs producing some of the pros McClain models his game after.

"Julio. That's the reason I wear number 11, Julio," he said. "We played against Foley, where Julio (Jones) is from, so I started looking at him. Him and Sammy Watkins." 

McClain is back home in Alabama for the school's spring break.

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