5-star Malik McDowell’s family split on decision

5-star defensive end Malik McDowell has narrowed his list of schools down to four – the Florida State Seminoles, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans and Ohio State Buckeyes.

If it were completely up to the 6’7, 290-pound McDowell, he would likely sign with the Spartans.

That, however, doesn’t seem to be the case.

“We’re basically at the same point, his mother and I, as long as he gets away from Michigan we don’t care where he goes,” McDowell’s father, Greg McDowell told 24/7 Sports. “We’ve expressed numerous times all we want is the best for him and seeing him get out of here we think is best. It’s for his future. I just want him to recognize that and hopefully he understands and he will take that into account and say I’m 17 and my parents want the best for me and I’ll jump on board because it’s only three or four years that I’m going to be away, and I want to get to this certain level and be somewhere I can concentrate. You have to be somewhere you have less distractions and be around people that do what you do, go to class, be football players, be a student-athlete. That’s the environment I want him to be around, and not be in close proximity to his friends.”

His parents want him to leave the state, which means either the Seminoles or Buckeyes could be very happy come Wednesday.