Penn State '23 AZ DB - A.J. Harris (Transfer to Penn State)

A.J. Harris, a five-star cornerback who Kerry Coombs is after, wants to make his commitment “as soon as possible” and hopes to have a decision this month. https://t.co/idkogDCaw2

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) July 2, 2021

 

Elite 2023 DB AJ Harris drops his top schools, says "next will be my commitment".... #Buckeyes a strong contender for his services https://t.co/MeYGsZ9AVo

— Alex Gleitman (@alexgleitman) July 7, 2021

 

A.J. HARRIS RELEASES TOP 13
After telling Eleven Warriors at The Opening last week that he could commit as soon as July, 2023 five-star cornerback A.J. Harris announced a top-13 school list Tuesday that included Ohio State.

Harris, a Phenix City, Alabama native, says his next announcement will be a commitment to his school of choice, though he has not announced a specific date. The No. 3 cornerback in 2023 according to 247Sports' composite rankings, Harris had four interceptions and four pass breakups over the weekend at The Opening.

“There could most definitely be something coming soon,” Harris told Eleven Warriors on July 2. “I want to get this commitment over with so I can just lock in with whatever program I go to and just stick it out with that program. I'm not trying to rush it, but I do want to get a commitment here soon.”

 

The Hurry-Up: AJ Harris‘ father says his son will likely make a decision this fall, while five-star quarterback Malachi Nelson sets his commitment date for Sunday. https://t.co/XmmwBitaVc

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) July 12, 2021

After turning heads by picking off four passes (returning three for touchdowns) and making four pass breakups, five-star cornerback and Ohio State target AJ Harris has seen his already high stock reach new heights.

Harris, the No. 21st-ranked player nationally in the class of 2023 and the No. 3 cornerback per 247Sports’ composite rankings, told Eleven Warriors at the event he may commit to the school of his choosing by the end of July.

“There could most definitely be something coming soon,” the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Harris said at The Opening in Manhattan Beach, California.

But according to his father, Daniel Harris, a commitment from Harris may be more likely to come in the fall rather than this month.

“It’s already kind of out there, AJ is kind of ready to put this to bed,” the elder Harris told Eleven Warriors on Sunday. “If I had to guess, he may commit sometime during his junior season. The only reason he would wait longer is if we want to see the 2022 defensive back classes for all of the schools that are really in his top five. You know, he put out his top 13, but really as a family we kind of know the top five … He may commit (this fall). Between October and December, he’ll probably know.”

When the recruiting dead period was lifted in June, the Harris family used the month to travel to camps at Clemson, Georgia, Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Auburn. Before visiting those campuses, AJ gave his father a list of 10 schools he’d like to see in June, then the pair narrowed it down to seven. After spending weeks traveling to different parts of the country, AJ wanted to take a break and focus on practicing with Glenwood High School (Phenix City, Ala.) and preparing for Nike's The Opening.

Daniel told Eleven Warriors once the current recruiting dead period lifts in late July, the two will focus on visiting the schools AJ wanted to see but didn’t get a chance to. Virginia Tech was the seventh school on the June docket, but since the family never made the trip to campus, a visit to Blacksburg is likely in the cards for late July. The elder Harris said they may also visit Florida and LSU.

“To be honest at this point, that’ll be it (for seeing new schools),” Daniel said. “Moving forward, to be honest, I’m going to talk to him and see ‘Where do you really want to go at the end of July?’ He’ll let me know, and I’ll go ahead and work the logistics of it. We’ll see two, definitely no more than three schools at the end of July. Then we’ll look at the college schedules to see what games we want to get to (this fall).”

Although he resides in Phenix City, Alabama, which is located about five minutes from the Georgia state border, the younger Harris doesn’t have any emotional ties to SEC schools such as Alabama, Georgia or Auburn. AJ spent about the first eight years of his life in Germany because of his father’s military service, then resided in California for a time before Daniel was stationed at Fort Benning in Georgia in 2012. If anything, any emotional investment would be to schools in the Midwest, seeing as Daniel grew up in Gary, Indiana, which sits about 30 miles outside of Chicago.

“We did not get the Indiana Hoosiers, the Indiana Pacers,” Daniel said. “We got the Chicago Bulls, Notre Dame football and the Chicago Bears. So I grew up a Notre Dame fan. Really, if anything, AJ was being force-fed Notre Dame games on Saturdays. Definitely (didn’t grow up) an Alabama Crimson Tide fan.”

As far as Ohio State is concerned, the Buckeyes remain in great standing with Harris. Both Daniel and AJ have already determined they will attend OSU’s home opener against Oregon in September, as well as take in games at Georgia, Alabama and Clemson later that fall. The elder Harris said his son bonded with other defensive backs with ties to Ohio State while at The Opening, including 2022 commit C.J. Hicks and 2022 target Xavier Nwankpa.

“Those relationships matter,” Daniel said. “AJ really fell in love with C.J. Hicks and (Xavier) at The Opening. We’re watching to see where (Xavier) is going to go. Is it Notre Dame, is it Ohio State? AJ is very much a relationship type of person, so getting with those guys at The Opening, that was big.”

Ohio State has yet to land a commitment for any position for the class of 2023, but Harris is one of five priority targets for Ryan Day and the Buckeye coaching staff.

“He’s already told me, ‘Dad, I don’t need to play the game. I know if I take my father on official visits we’ll be treated like royalty, and that would be nice to experience, but I really don’t need that because I’m very content to be treated like royalty by the team I’m going to commit to,’” Daniel said. “Sometime between now and December, I think he definitely will be committed.”

In his sophomore season with Glenwood, AJ scored eight special teams touchdowns and recorded two pick-sixes to go with two rushing touchdowns and three receiving scores. He had 28 total tackles, four interceptions and two tackles for loss.

 

5-star cornerback talks @DB_CoachCoombs, Ryan Day and a return to #OhioState. VIP. https://t.co/syLaiTfvFn

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) July 17, 2021

 

Impact Performance RX founder Chason Perry makes no secret about his Ohio State fandom. He doesn't shy away from gushing about five-star cornerback AJ Harris, either. https://t.co/9AlXGeyy06

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 8, 2021

 

5-star recruit @Aj_harris04 understands that he plays at a smaller school, but he has a message for players that are in the same situation he's in and want to play college ball.
@GlenwoodgatorFB @AISAathletics @WRBLSports @jeffsentell @247Sports pic.twitter.com/2uxWSRnBDA

— Rex Castillo (@rexcastillotv) August 11, 2021

 

5-star junior CB @Aj_harris04 sounds focused on five schools, eyes a decision timeline. "We're close," Harris says. This is a priority prospect for a lot of teams in 2023, including UGA. https://t.co/8MZdOvQ6Jx pic.twitter.com/7IkG1lBszQ

— Jeff Sentell (@jeffsentell) August 12, 2021

 

Class of 2023 Rivals250 released👀⬇️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Aj (@Aj_harris04) Harris makes the list as the top rated DB.

Rivals team of analysts introduce you to the top 2023 players at each position:https://t.co/XH9uFNFvLF pic.twitter.com/H45EZxlDls

— Rivals (@Rivals) August 15, 2021

 

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The Hurry-Up: IMG Academy wideout Carnell Tate talks about his upcoming decision, AJ Harris changes his visit plans and a bunch of OSU targets from St. John Bosco lock in their visit date. https://t.co/DSh4YLBuHT

— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) August 30, 2021

HARRIS RESCHEDULES VISIT
Another one of Ohio State’s top targets for 2023 has delayed his fall visit to Columbus.

Five-star cornerback AJ Harris was scheduled to attend OSU’s home opener against Oregon on Sept. 11, but he had to postpone after no flights were available near his home home in Phenix City, Alabama, that would allow him to make it to Columbus in time for the noon kickoff after he got done playing for Glenwood School on Friday night, his father Daniel Harris told Eleven Warriors on Monday.

Daniel said he and AJ now plan to attend OSU’s home game against Maryland on Oct. 9, which will be easier to attend since AJ plays a game on Thursday that week and the pair can catch a flight on Friday.

AJ Harris, who Ohio State remains in good standing with, is rated as the No. 13 overall prospect and the third-best cornerback in the 2023 class.

 

Today is the first day coaches can directly contact 2023 recruits. We highlight some of the prospects who should be first on the list for Ohio State to talk to. https://t.co/nRpH7Xei1Y

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 1, 2021

AJ HARRIS, CORNERBACK
There are five five-star cornerbacks in the 2023 class. The Buckeyes have offers out to three of them: Cormani McClain, Tony Mitchell and Harris. Of those mentioned, Ohio State’s best shot at landing one is easily Harris.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Phenix City, Alabama resident once told Eleven Warriors he’d consider committing at the end of July. That didn’t happen, but it’s still well-known that Harris would like to commit sooner rather than later, preferably by the end of his junior season. After originally planning to attend the Oregon game, Harris changed his visit to the Oct. 9 game against Maryland due to a scheduling conflict. Considering Ohio State will have to fend off southern schools such as Alabama, Georgia and Clemson to land its most coveted defensive back prospect for 2023, the Buckeyes will be in contact with Harris early and often.

 

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5-star DB sets #OhioState visit. VIP https://t.co/8Gqk7ytZQb

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) September 7, 2021

 

HARRIS SETS COMMITMENT DATE
The top priority at cornerback for Ohio State in 2023 has set a commitment date. Five-star recruit AJ Harris cut his school list down to seven on Tuesday, and also announced he will make his college decision on Jan. 11, 2022. The schools still in the running include Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Notre Dame, North Carolina and Georgia.

Harris, a Phenix City, Alabama, resident, is rated the No. 13 player nationally and the third cornerback in the 2023 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. Harris visited OSU in June and plans to return to Columbus on Oct. 9 for the Buckeyes' contest with Maryland.