I don't know who has taught young Mr. Harris how to play the recruiting game, but he's playing it like a master. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Has he learned from Drew Barker or Matt Elam or both?
If you'll recall, last year Barker and Elam both kept the Kentucky fan base on pins and needles until they made their final decisions. While their timing may have been different, both held the almost undivided attention of the Big Blue Nation and neither was even remotely interested in the Wildcats until Mark Stoops and his staff arrived in Lexington. You can count Damien Harris in the same boat of disinterest. This time last year, Harris was about to commit to the Michigan Wolverines.
One of Michigan big recruiting events is a BBQ at the Big House at the end of July. Last year, Harris attended and committed the day after. Kentucky fans had already accepted the fact that there wasn't any interest and shrugged their shoulders, wishing that one day things would change and the Commonwealth's flagship would be a school of interest for those few and far between players from the home state who are truly special.
Mark Stoops didn't have that defeatist attitude that the fan base had. He approached several home grown kids and asked them to give Kentucky a chance and keep an open mind. Harris was one of those. Barker and Elam were asked to do the same.
If you'll recall, Barker was surely going to Columbia to play for the great Steve Spurrier at South Carolina and Elam was almost a sure thing for Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide. Barker committed to the Wildcats on May 10, 2013 and it set off a chain reaction that brought Kentucky its best recruiting class since who knows how long. Barker became one of Kentucky's chief recruiters and Elam was one of his primary targets. Elam held out until January 14, 2014, teasing the BBN all along the way. Beating out Alabama is a major accomplishment, no matter who you are. Mark Stoops pulled it off after a second 2-10 season in his first year.
Kentucky hasn't produced a running back like Damien Harris since Boone County's Shaun Alexander who left the Commonwealth to play for Alabama in 1995. Before that, there was the great Sonny Collins of Madisonville. Kentucky has had its share of good to great running backs such as Calvin and Roger Bird and Mark Higgs, but Alexander and Collins are a notch above. Damien Harris can be the third truly great running back from Kentucky. At the high school level, he's already there. You just can't get any better than numero uno.
A couple of weeks ago, Harrison cut his list to eight schools: Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida, Oregon, Florida State and Kentucky. This list is a tribute to the job Mark Stoops and his staff have done, win or lose.
On Monday, Damien Harris announced via Twitter that he will be trimming his list to five on August 1st. That's the day when written (committable) offers are made. Kentucky and Ohio State are both expected to be on that list. I also expect Michigan, Notre Dame and Alabama to be on the list. Most experts are predicting he will commit to Ohio State, but Alabama and Notre Dame have a magical pull on any player, just as Ohio State has. Kentucky has the advantage of a half hour's drive from Berea and Mark Stoops.
Harris also announced his day of decision: December 13th and has mentioned an early enrollment. I found out via Patrick Loney's re-tweet.
And, he made it known that he will not be able to attend Michigan's BBQ or Ohio State's Friday Night Lights camp. If you check out the Next Cats blog by the Lexington Herald-Leaders Ben Roberts, you'll also see a link to an article from Michigan Live which verifies that Harris won't be going to Columbus or Ann Arbor. There is also another link about Harris and Madison Southern's game against Dunbar in Lexington which also gives his stats to date.
Keep those fingers crossed, BBN.