Login | Member Center | Contact Us | About Us | Site Map | Archive | Alerts/Photos | Subscribe to the paper | knoxnews.com

Home › Football Recruiting

Harris likes what he sees at UT

By Josh Ward (Contact)
Originally published 05:35 p.m., January 4, 2008
Updated 05:35 p.m., January 4, 2008

Tennessee has made a strong impression on Jerrell Harris.

The linebacker from Gadsden City (Ala.) High School has been strongly considering the Vols since he participated in a camp at UT last summer.

Harris said he didn’t expect to be so impressed by what he saw in Knoxville.

“I was just shocked looking at everything,” the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder said. “I didn’t know they had all the facilities and the people they had around.”

Harris also didn’t know he would feel as comfortable as he did with the Vols.

“I just feel good when I’m there at the campus and around the people,” he said.

That feeling has influenced Harris to schedule an official visit to UT on Feb. 1, the final weekend before National Signing Day on Feb. 6.

Harris said he’s developed a strong relationship with defensive coordinator John Chavis, who also coaches linebackers.

“He’s a great man,” Harris said of Chavis. “I know a lot of things about him. I’ve heard a lot of good stories.”

Harris has found out about Chavis’ coaching with his own eyes. He said he kept up with the Vols this season and was impressed with their defensive system.

It’s a system Harris believes can help him reach his ultimate goal, the NFL.

“They’re putting players in the league,” he said. “They have the coaches that can get you where you need to go. They can teach you a lot of things.”

UT isn’t the only program Harris knows he can learn from. He took an official visit to Alabama last month and likes the program’s direction under coach Nick Saban.

“I know he’s making a lot of improvements down there,” Harris said. “He’s going to make a change down there and he’s got a lot of room for impact players to come in there and have a chance to play early.”

Harris said he will take official visits to Clemson on Jan. 11, Auburn on Jan. 18, and Southern Cal on Jan. 25. He said he’s also considering Florida.

Harris said all six schools on his list are even, but he doesn’t think choosing a school will be difficult.

“I’ll have the feeling when I get to campus for the official visit and get to be around the people,” he said. “You’ll just automatically know if that’s the place for you or not.”

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       24 Comments

Posted by tngeoff on January 4, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hope he joins us!

Posted by johnsoncityvol45 on January 4, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Come to Knoxville Jerrell, and become a part of the big orange nation! You would look great in orange and white!

Posted by pdhuff on January 4, 2008 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

One can only hope. Get Al Wilson to call him.

Posted by sjt18 on January 4, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Being last is a great advantage with an open prospect. The only danger is if someone wows him and he cancels.

Posted by InBruceWeTrust on January 4, 2008 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jerrell looks very good. He would be one of few bright spots in this recruiting class thus far. Very athletic like Mayo.

Posted by bshell12 on January 4, 2008 at 7:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

anybody seen the video on this kid....its nasty!!!

Posted by Volalumnus on January 4, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We will need some linebackers to come in soon.

Posted by txvolsfan on January 4, 2008 at 8:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Would LOVE to steal one out of Satan(Saban)'s backyard!!!
I agree with have Al Wilson call him!!!!
GO VOLS!!!
LET'S GET SOME MORE IMPACT PLAYERS LIKE
BERRY
TXVOLSFAN

Posted by thesavageorange on January 4, 2008 at 8:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tngeoff , OUCH!I hope that kid got up.I have often wondered how much ex players get involved in recruiting.Coaches can't talk to recruits at certain times, but anyone else can.I hope some of our NFL guys are on the horn, or will be to some of these recruits.

Posted by tngeoff on January 4, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

thesavageorange,

That was a crazy hit! That's just what we need to go along Eric "Hitman" Berry! Some ex players do. There's actually at least one on here who does.

Posted by Plasticman on January 4, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If the NFL is his dream, the Vols put more players there than any other team in the SEC. Sure hope he joins us!

Posted by tngeoff on January 4, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Plasticman,

Good point!

Posted by ncvol17 on January 4, 2008 at 10:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Beware recruiting promises.. I remember Cadillac Williams & Chris Simms were rock solid commitments to UT right up to the day they signed elsewhere...

Posted by BleedsOrangeinMO on January 4, 2008 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WOW!!! What day is it? He said when he got up.
Looks like another Eric Berry!! A heat seeking missile; we need to get this guy. Does anyone know can ex-Vols talk it up to recruits? If so we need for them to make some phone calls. Al Wilson, are you listening?

Posted by marc_ash on January 5, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr. Harris already looks and sounds like a man. He pulls a 3.2 GPA and presents himself very well. He also knows he wants to go pro, and WILL choose the stage that allows that to happen. He's a business man first and foremost, which bodes very well for the Vols. I think he has a good chance of choosing UT for the following reasons:

1. He will go anywhere, so Bama won't be his definite choice.

2. He is a businessman, and UT is top notch for putting players in the league.

3. UT and FL are 2 of the top schools in the nation that have shown they will play freshmen. This will be a HUGE selling point if he chooses to come to Knoxville.

This is the first person I've really commented on wanting for sure to play for the Vols. This young man will be exciting to watch.

Posted by ALLVOL12 on January 5, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

3.2 GPA for this young man is something I like to see. A stud athlete who knows the importance of making the grade. Maybe if he were already here he could have rubbed off on a certain UT linebacker.

Posted by carolinababe on January 5, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

By the way pdhuff and tngeoff...the ogg was gone from the swap meet. Sorry. Happy New Year though!

Posted by volfreak on January 5, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I sure hope we get some nice recruits. Watching the Army All-Start game right and seeing all the players committed and it's sad to not see Tennessee among any of the players. Notre Dame is really racking them up.

Posted by tngeoff on January 5, 2008 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

carolinababe,

Sadness is upon me. Thanks for the effort though!

Posted by pdhuff on January 5, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

carolinababe, into some lives a little ogg will fall. In others there will only be emptiness. Another long winter in the cold Cumberland foothills oggless. This is the final rock in the stomewall of the doldrums. Tks for at least remembering. Happy 2008.

I would swap an old beagle for an ogg should you find one. This dog only hunts inanimate objects from neighboring farms anymore, alas. In this case a white Christmas bear who used to be 30 inches high. Now mostly packed into a Glad yard bag. Wish he would bring a Harris home.

Posted by tngeoff on January 6, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff,

Bro'. That was your greatest post EVER! Too funny!

Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Username:

Password:
(Forgotten your password?)

Your Turn: