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Mark Richt and company picked up a huge commitment for the class of 2015 on Thursday when Columbia, Tennessee tight end Jackson Harris pledged to come to Athens.
Harris is rated by 247Sports as the #7 tight end in the country and the #7 prospect in the state of Tennessee. He is also a 6'6, 250 pound, true pro-style tight end, something which isn't that easy to find but which is vital to the Bulldog offense. Harris chose the Bulldogs over an offer from Alabama, thought by many to be the leader for his services until recently. Harris made a recent visit to Tuscaloosa soon after announcing that he'd be deciding this week, which certainly made a commitment to the Tide look reasonable. The commitment to the 'Dawgs was not only a big deal because of that 'Bama offer, but because of the offers from Clemson, Ohio State, Florida, Florida State, Oklahoma, Oregon and Penn State. Harris is, in short, one of those big deal recruits who everyone wanted to get. Getting him to Athens would be a huge coup.
It also helps set Georgia up in a big way at the tight end spot for the future. In 2016 the Georgia offense will hopefully be led by the eventual successor to Hutson Mason, entering his second season at the helm. Assuming everyone stays healthy, out of jail, and unkidnapped by aliens, that mystery QB will have as options current redshirt freshman Jordan Davis, by then a junior, as well as incoming tight end recruits Jeb Blazevich and Hunter Atkinson along with Harris. That's a lot of talented guys at a position I wondered not long ago whether we'd really flubbed in recruiting.
Harris's commitment caps a whirlwind couple of days for the Bulldog staff. After going without a commitment for some time they picked up three pledges for the class of 2015 in about a day and a half. In addition to Harris Georgia received a commitment from Miami Northwestern cornerback Deandre Baker and fast rising Randolph Clay outside linebacker prospect Gary McCrae (more on him tomorrow). Until later . . .
Go 'Dawgs!!!