A.J. Harris commits to Ole Miss
A.J. Harris committed to Ole Miss this week (Record Photo/Lindsay Vaught)
MADISON- Bob Jones safety A.J. Harris ended the speculation with a tweet on Sunday July 24. He will sign a full ride football scholarship with Ole Miss in 2017.
Harris said that it came down to Ole Miss and Michigan.
“I called Coach Freeze and committed,” Harris said. “He was happy and he said they were glad to have me. They said I am versatile and can play corner or safety. I am a ball hawk, a head-hunter, and they like all attributes of my game.”
Harris (6-foot, 190) is a three year starter for Bob Jones. He had six interceptions last season and was rated a three star prospect. Among his other offers were Florida State and Louisville.
“Michigan being so far away from home I had to consider my parents traveling to games and I wanted to be closer to home. My goals there are education first and then athletics. I am going into the business school.
Now that it’s over I feel like all the pressure is off me. I had a lot of built up pressure but now I feel relieved and ready to enjoy my senior season.”
Harris has a 3.0 GPA and a 21 ACT so he is fully qualified.
He visited the campus in Oxford, Mississippi three times. The factors that went into his decision were “academics, the love from the coaches, the feel of the overall campus the student environment, and just a fun time.”
Harris will be training at the Manning Athletics Performance Center that houses the indoor practice facility, 10,000 sq. ft. weight room, locker room, full kitchen and dining hall, and players lounge.
On the field Ole Miss is enjoying success. They have beaten Alabama two years in a row but there is still work to be done. Ole Miss remains one of 3 original Southeastern Conference teams to never play in the SEC Championship game. The others are Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
Offers from Alabama and Auburn never came.
“I waited as long as I could but they never showed me any interest. I went with what’s best for me.”
Bob Jones coach Kevin Rose said he expects Harris to play early.
“A.J. can contribute as a freshman. It could be special teams or at safety or corner. When he gets in the weight room and the eating program he can add 20 pounds of muscle.”
Bob Jones offensive tackle Kendall Randolph will announce his college choice on Aug. 2 in a tweet. His final four are Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, and Florida.
