Malik Hornsby, the celebrated name in the Arkansas State locker room as well as in the entire realm of CFB, has always been aware of what he wants in life. It was always football and nothing else for the Missouri City native. While the kids around his age were busy indulging in different types of sports on a sunny holiday, Hornsby had his hands on the football. The dead grit and determination steered him through a standout high school career in Fort Bend Marshall High School to the premier Wide receivers’ spot among the Red Wolves.

However, the meteoric rise wouldn’t have been a reality if the former Texas QB hadn’t made a bold decision to leave his hometown, Mississippi, after a shell-shocking escapade.

Why did Malik Hornsby switch high schools?

Malik Hornsby used to play amateur football at Steve F. Austin High School. Everything was going smoothly, but destiny pulled the rug. He took his talents to the eminent Fort Bend Marshall, where he saw a high-flying uprise posting over 5,000 total yards and 82 touchdowns. While the decision benefitted him to elevate his game, it was never meant for that.  On a breezy June evening, Hornsby was chilling in the back seat of a GMC sports utility vehicle on his way back to his South Side neighborhood. When the car landed in the parking spot located outside of his Southlawn Palms apartment, a group of guns loomed large in the blink of an eye. Hornsby realized he had just witnessed a drive-by shootout.

While by god’s grace, he and his parents were safe, the trauma of seeing such a heinous incident stirred their mental sanity for obvious reasons. Young Hornsby started to feel insecure about his life, keeping football in the rear for the moment. Like any other human being, the only thing that bothered him and his family at that point in time was the idea of immediate shifting. Steve F. Austin was the reason they were leaving in such a volatile area. So, Hornsby packed his bag and left for Fort Bend Marshall High School. What happened afterwards perfectly justifies the phrase, ‘blessing in disguise’.

The Mississippi-born quickly got himself accustomed to his new native place and started to build a connection. Hornsby, 24, a deeply homesick soul who dipped his feet in the Texas State as a redshirt junior quarterback after a brief stint with North Carolina, however, was meant to move more for a sharper career.

Why did Malik Hornsby end up in Arkansas State?

Hornsby was done testing his sway as the quarterback. He was awaiting a role change. When he found that wasn’t something he could get his hands on in Texas, the transfer portal came into the picture. Shortly after he announced his transition to Arkansas State, reports suggested that he would switch from quarterback to wide receiver, taking the chance of Jeff Foreman’s absence.

Honrsby’s decision to transfer this season could be understood by his stats for the Bobcats. In his one season at Texas State, the quarterback mounted 8 of 15 passes for 83 yards, an interception. The passing numbers do not look that impressive for a QB, but he showed his worth through his running game, sprinting for 229 yards on 35 carries, including six TDs.

Now, in the ongoing season, Hornsby is in the 3rd team of his college career. After a brief stint with Texas State, he is back in Arkansas, but rather than playing for the Razorbacks, Malik Hornsby is donning the jersey of the Red Wolves. Let’s see how he fares for Arkansas State offense.

If you want to know about other nitty-gritty of college football, you can refer to our ES Think Tank interview with Doug Sanders, founder of Sanders Sports and Entertainment.