South Carolina Lands Commitment From Al Harris Jr.
November 10, 2012; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier directs his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
The South Carolina Gamecocks have officially landed their third, and likely final, defensive back commitment in the 2014 recruiting class. Al Harris, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) pledged his official commitment to the Gamecocks on Friday afternoon. According to Rivals, Harris is the 77th ranked defensive back in his class and a three-star recruit. Harris marks the tenth commitment for the Gamecocks for 2014.
Grady Brown, the Gamecock’s secondary coach, was the main reason for Harris choosing the Gamecocks. Harris noted that Brown was a huge factor in his decision making process that ultimately ended in his choosing South Carolina. “I think he’s a really good coach. He’s a real good guy. He’s coached some real good guys and he’s been coaching for a while, so he just knows what he’s doing.”
Questions arose quickly after Harris made his commitment, because he has not actually visited South Carolina’s campus yet. However, Harris plans to make an official visit very soon, as well as making the trip to Williams-Brice for a game this season. Harris said,” I definitely plan on going up to see the campus, the school and a game atmosphere. Seeing the school, it’s important to me. I’m going to the school for football and I know the scheme they run and the chances I have to play early. Seeing the campus and seeing the environment is a plus.”
Harris seemed to be very pleased with the defensive scheme that South Carolina runs and feels that it will be a perfect fit for is skill set. “I like the defensive scheme, the coaches. The defensive coordinator is a great coach and has coached some really good players. I like the defensive backs they have had before. They like that I can play press coverage. That’s my main attribute. That’s what I work on the most. I think that’s why they had interest in me,” said Harris.
In Harris, the Gamecocks are getting a defensive back with NFL pedigree. Harris’ father, Al Harris Sr., played fourteen seasons in the NFL and is now an assistant coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. Harris was highly sought after, receiving offers from multiple schools including: Florida State, Penn State, Cincinnati, UCLA, Wisconsin, and many more. However, Harris is sold on the Gamecocks and his commitment it solid. Harris had this message for Gamecock Nation after the announcement of his decision, “”My commitment is pretty firm. “My commitment is to them and I don’t think I’m planning on visiting any other schools. “Go Gamecocks.”