Alabama Football Recruiting: Elite edge rusher Kevin Harris commits, Tide moves up to #1 class

Earlier today, 2019 four-star linebacker/defensive end Kevin Harris committed to play for the University of Alabama. Hailing from Grayson High School in Loganville, GA, Harris is the #86 overall recruit and the 5th best in Alabama’s 2019 class so far. He’s considered the #6 weakside-defensive end in the nation, and the #9 overall player in the state of Georgia.

Sidenote: Georgia high school football is unbelievable right now. That means 9 of the top 86 players in the nation are from the Peach State, which is just over 10%. Which is three times more than the 3% of the total US population that resides in Georgia. No wonder Kirby Smart just got such a good recruiting class... its all geographical happenstance.

Anyway, Harris is expected to be a JACK linebacker at Alabama and spend his time rushing the passer. He’s a bit on the light side at 6’4” 218, but Christian Miller was similarly sized as a high school recruit, so I expect Harris to follow his path and bulk up to about 230 by the time he gets into the Alabama weight program, and finish up his collegiate career around 240-245.

Some quotes from 247:

“The culture, I like what they have there,” Harris said. “It’s kind of similar to my school. We keep everything the same way, we don’t have to get all fancy or nothing. We practice and play like we’re No. 1. That’s how it is at Bama. Just the work ethic and everything, the coaching staff, it’s everything that I need to take it to the next level.”

Alabama defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi recruits Harris, who projects as a Jack linebacker (hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker). Along with now Harris, Lupoi, one of the Tide’s top recruiters has helped land Amari Kight, Taulia Tagovailoa, and King Mwikuta thus far in the 2019 cycle.

Asked if it’s a relief to have the recruiting process out of the way ...

”I don’t really like the recruiting process that much,” Harris said. “I guess a little bit of the weight is gone, but I still have to work hard.”

With his commitment, Alabama’s 2019 recruiting class bumped up to #1 overall in the nation. Pierce Quick is still the lone 5-star player, but is followed by 10 four-stars. Five of the eleven committed are in the top 100 recruits in the nation.

Also from 247:

“The enthusiasm is at an all-time high,” BamaOnLine Publisher Tim Watts said about Alabama’s current recruiting efforts last week. “It started with the new hires and the weekend of the national championship celebration and it has just carried over and it’s paying off. The players, coaches and families talk about the atmosphere and of course the success of Alabama has always shown up in many ways. But you can see the effort especially on social media and how excited the coaching staff is that is currently there.”

It’s still early, but it certainly feels like this classes’ current trajectory is aiming at another No. 1 finish.

“The Julio Jones class was fantastic, especially at the top where a lot of those guys went on to great college careers and then the NFL,” Watts said of where the 2019 class could compare to past UA classes. “So that is always tough to beat but the 2017 group sure looks to give them a run for their money. At least based on their first year in Tuscaloosa.

“So 2019 has big shoes to fill, and while it’s early, the 2019 class is headed in that direction. It will depend on how they finish but it has the signs of being a very elite class.”

You have to think that, despite his words about being happy with the 2018 class and insistence that he doesn’t care about rankings, Nick Saban is pulling some overtime to make sure he comes away on top again in 2019.

Roll Tide