Potential Domino Effect of 5-Star 2016 QB Malik Henry Committing to Florida St.

By landing a commitment from Malik Henry—who is rated as the nation’s top quarterback in the 2016 class—Jimbo Fisher and the Florida State Seminoles are setting themselves up for a potential blockbuster class.

Grabbing one of the top five players overall in the 2016 cycle is a building block that is likely to attract the attention of other top recruits who have interest in the ‘Noles.

As noted by Josh Newberg of Noles247, Henry, who also has plans to play baseball at Florida State, has drawn comparisons to the Seminoles' current quarterback—reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston.

Given Henry possesses that type of potential and the fact Fisher was able to pull him out of California, his commitment signals that Florida State is primed to remain among the nation’s elite for years to come.

Henry will now turn his attention to luring other top players, but which recruits will take priority on his wish list?

Nate Craig-Myers

There will be no shortage of talented receivers for Henry to throw to in Tallahassee.

However, there are a number of talented pass-catchers in the 2016 cycle located in the Seminoles’ backyard—headlined by the nation’s junior top receiver, 5-star in-state standout Nate Craig-Myers.

The 6’2”, 205-pounder is currently committed to Auburn. However, as Keith Niebuhr of AuburnUndercover reports, Craig-Myers appears to be having some second thoughts about his pledge and could re-open his recruitment.

If that happens, the Seminoles could be one of the teams in play. With a top-flight quarterback such as Henry already in the fold, heading to Tallahassee would make sense for an elite receiver such as Craig-Myers.

Shavar Manuel

Henry becomes the centerpiece for the future of the ‘Noles offense, but Fisher will look to find an alpha dog for his defense. 

Defensive end Shavar Manuel, who is the No. 2 player overall, is another Tampa product Fisher and his staff are vigorously pursuing.

Newberg (subscription required) notes that Manuel came away heavily impressed after attending the ‘Noles' thrilling win over Notre Dame last month.

When Winston committed in the 2012 class, the ‘Noles were also able to snag a pledge from top-rated defensive end Mario Edwards Jr.—both of whom have been integral parts of the team’s recent success. 

Fisher is hoping he and his staff can repeat that feat by pairing Henry and Manuel as the cornerstones of the offense and defense, respectively.

Isaac Nauta

Another critical piece of the ‘Noles offense in recent years has been the emergence of the tight end position.

Senior Nick O’Leary has given Fisher’s offense a versatile weapon who creates headaches for opposing defenses. 

In 4-star tight end target Isaac Nauta, the ‘Noles are looking to land a player with a skill set that compares favorably to O’Leary when he was a recruit. 

As reported by Chris Nee of Noles247, Nauta will announce his commitment on Dec. 15.

Netting an elite quarterback such as Henry can only strengthen FSU’s bid in its quest to land the nation’s top tight prospect in the 2016 class.

Saivion Smith

The secondary is another area where Fisher and his staff have succeeded in landing difference-makers in their recent recruiting classes. 

Perhaps the top defensive back on the ‘Noles' radar in 2016 is 5-star corner Saivion Smith. 

Smith has spent much of the last year battling against 2015 4-star FSU quarterback pledge Deondre Francois—who is his teammate at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida—in practice on a daily basis.

Henry committed to FSU despite the ‘Noles possessing commitments from three top passers, including Francois, in the 2015 cycle—which displays his desire as a competitor. 

Considering how well Fisher and his staff have recruited over the years, he and his staff have crafted a program built on fostering competition day in and day out.

Pairing elite talents such as Henry and Smith against one another on a daily basis in practice would help continue that tradition.

Henry is the fifth commitment in Florida State’s 2016 class and the first 5-star junior to pull the trigger for the Seminoles. 

However, considering the number of standout recruits with heavy interest in the ‘Noles, his pledge is likely just the beginning of a run toward another top-rated class for Fisher and his staff.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports. 

Follow @SanjayKirpalani