2015 Names To Watch: Jackson Harris
Position: Tight End
Ht/Wt/40: 6'6" / 245 lbs. / 4.85
Location: Columbia Central High School – Columbia, TN
Offers: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis, Mississippi State, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech
Ranking: ★★★ .8704 (247 Composite)
FILM
Coach Nussmeier recruited Jackson Harris while still employed at Alabama, and on his first full day as Michigan’s offensive coordinator he messaged Harris with a simple message: “Go Blue! I’ll be in touch soon.” just to let him know that he’s still a priority. Nussmeier has been recruiting Harris since early fall, has visited Columbia Central multiple times, and he and Harris message back and forth quite a bit. Luckily for Michigan, big-bodied tight ends with a propensity to block work in Ann Arbor just as well as they do in Tuscaloosa.
On film Jackson doesn’t jump off the screen as an elite athlete, but he’s big and strong and drives on his blocks like some elite linemen you watch on film. He doesn’t possess great speed but he seems to have a knack for getting open and catches the ball smoothly. At 6’6”and 245 lbs. he could easily grow into a jumbo tight end, primarily used for blocking, with the ability to catch passes. He also looks pretty good at defensive end for what it’s worth.
Nuss is basically the reason Harris is even considering Michigan. “I hadn’t heard much from Michigan before so they weren’t really on my radar. I haven’t seriously considered them until now. Now that Coach Nuss is there I’m definitely going to look into them quite a bit. I honestly don’t know too much about Michigan so I can’t say too much yet.” Harris really appreciates that Coach Nussmeier thought enough of him to reach out so quickly. “He’s a good guy. He’s pretty straightforward for the most part, he seems all business but I really like him.”
With Jackson now paying attention to Michigan he says that an offer from the Wolverines would be something to take seriously. “Yeah, if they offer I would definitely like to check it out. I’ve heard good things about them and it would be cool to visit.”
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Jackson obviously means something to Coach Nussmeier as he wasted no time in reaching out to him. With little attrition and few seniors next season the 2015 class is going to be small, and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. remains the most likely candidate for one obvious tight end spot. If things don’t pan out with Wheatley Jr. or Coach Nuss is given the opportunity to offer another TE, expect Jackson to be at the top of that list.
January 13th, 2014 at 9:31 AM ^
Good stuff BB
January 13th, 2014 at 9:38 AM ^
January 13th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^
i don't know why, but the tag "actual reporting" kind of always makes me chuckle
January 13th, 2014 at 9:58 AM ^
For a 3 star kids got some damn good offers. Clemson, FSU, Georgia, and heavy intrest from Bama? Do want. Maybe they take Wheatly as a pure TE and give Harris the Aj Williams role
January 13th, 2014 at 10:17 AM ^
January 13th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^
My memory may be failing me, but I don't know that I've ever seen a guy who was projected as a blocking TE ranked very high. My guess is that the rankings people don't see them as great NFL prospects.
January 13th, 2014 at 10:17 AM ^
it appears that recruiting has picked up some steam, not to mention the level of hope here on MGoBlog.
It seemed to me that as the 2013 season disintegrated before our eyes, we were losing nearly all the recruiting battles (yeah, not many spots left after early verbal commitments and all that stuff) and were helpless bystanders as all our rivals went sprinting by the trainwreck we had become.
Suddenly though, as NSD approaches in a few weeks, some amount of momentum has returned. Sure would be huge if we can reel in a surprise or two in the coming weeks, not just for the 2014 class but also beyond.
January 13th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^
that's good enough for me. The kid has great size among other things. Maybe if we get Wheatley, Harris could switch over to DE if the numbers at TE become too large.
January 13th, 2014 at 11:17 AM ^
with all the DE film included on there. That kid really moves people around and likes to get into it whether he's on the D side or the TE side. Loves to get physical and run through people. A blocking TE or a DE, kid has a future.
January 13th, 2014 at 11:11 AM ^
January 13th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
Our QBs will throw to all the Harrises.
January 13th, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
Given his impressive offer sheet, he may be the type of kid who is cautiously graded a 3 star by the scouting services, but then gets the 4th star after receiving more scrutiny as an upperclassman. Clearly football people at some top programs believe in his potential.
January 13th, 2014 at 1:09 PM ^
I can't say that I follow recruiting all that much. However, a strong guy who drives his blocks like a lineman, cathes the ball smoothly, is 6'6 245 and could also play DE sounds good to me.
However, since I was a student in the early 90's, I remember Tyrone Wheatley and will be very disappointed if Jr. doesn't go Blue.
January 13th, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
Any chance he could grow into an OT? He has the height and seems to have the blocking ability.
January 13th, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^
That type of transformation isn't unheard of. To my knowledge that hasn't been discussed at all with him.
January 13th, 2014 at 8:07 PM ^
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