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- CB Brown commits to UNLV: Harrison to announce Tuesday at 2 p.m. (Dec. 15)
- Rebels add two more commitments; Harrison to decide Monday or Tuesday (Dec. 14)
- Rebels get one more shot at former Palo star Harrison (Dec. 11)
- Cheyenne’s Sullivan commits to UNLV; Rebels host Harrison, five others this weekend (Dec. 11)
- Rebels land two more commits on defense for ‘09 class (Dec. 8)
They landed him once, but they weren't meant to land him twice, it now appears.
Former Palo Verde star Jarrell Harrison -- who signed with UNLV as a quarterback out of high school in 2005 before failing to academically qualify -- decided on Tuesday to play his final two seasons of college ball at Missouri rather than with the Rebels.
In recent days, he'd lopped Arizona and North Carolina State off of his list of potential destinations, and announced his decision just after 2 p.m. on Tuesday on the "Talkin' Sports with RT" show on Fox Sports 920 AM.
A commitment from Harrison, who emerged as a Rivals.com 3-star prospect at safety while at City College of San Francisco, would have been huge for Mike Sanford and his staff. Harrison told the Sun a week ago that the UNLV staff had told him he could come in and start right away.
But the allure of playing in the Big 12 appeared to be too much for the Rebels to compete with in the end.
While he would have been a key figure in attempting to improve UNLV's pass defense, which ranked 63rd in the nation this season, Missouri may have needed him a bit more. The Tigers ranked 117th this season out of 119 FBS squads in pass defense, and will graduate both safeties -- including star William Moore. The Alamo Bowl-bound squad led by Gary Pinkel most recently surrendered 62 points to Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game in Kansas City, Mo. That game vaulted the Sooners into next month's BCS championship tilt.
UNLV currently has 14 commitments for the class of 2009, including six defensive backs. The most recent verbal came on Monday night from College of the Canyons product Kenny Brown -- the younger brother of former BYU running back Curtis Brown.
It would be assumed that the Rebels' focus now shifts towards landing 6-foot-4, 245-pound Santa Ana (Calif.) Community College defensive end B.J. Bell. He's the younger brother of former Rebels linebackers Zach and Beau Bell.
Beau was the 2007 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, and currently plays for the NFL's Cleveland Browns.
Damn, that's a bummer.
That's too bad. Jarrell, I hope you understand that the big 12 isn't exactly the best place to play defense right now. But if it's a challenge you're looking for, you could've got one in playing with a team on the rise in a conference on the rise. Not to mention, at UNLV you most likely would not have been challenged for playing time, at Mizzu, you most likely will.
Just remember Harrison, hindsight is 20/20.
Let's see...UNLV or MU, MU or UNLV. This is as hard as trying to figure out "to breath or not to breath". Only one choice..MU.
UNLV..you have got to be kidding me!
Hey Rollajoint, what was the score of the game against Oklahoma again? Don't make it sound like you're some super power. You've done nothing in recent memory to warrant your arrogance.
i love the rebels, but i'd go to the bigger, more successful school too. it's obvious he used unlv to get the starting position at mizzu. hasn't anyone learned from the rick pitino nonsense? good luck to him. unlv will be fine without his services. they have some big time hitters coming to town. :-)
I think losing Jarrell is probably very disappointing for Mike Sanford and his staff, especially since he signed with the Rebels once and was making it sound like he'd do the same all over again.
But, still, UNLV's going to have a lot of fresh bodies coming in in the secondary, so hope is not lost if you're a fan. I think Chris Jones could develop into a nice safety, as he showed huge strides late in the season. Plus, Quinton Pointer didn't start playing like the fearless Quinton Pointer of 2007 until about 7 games in, as he was still favoring that elbow injury until past the season's mid-way point.
Still, it's hard to blame the kid for going to Missouri. It's a bigger stage to showcase his talents on in the Big 12, plus the Tigers graduate both of their starting safeties. It's a very real possibility that he starts right off the bat.
Honestly, if I were him, I'd probably get wide-eyed and do the same thing.
From Vegas to SanFran to.....Columbia, MO. Have fun, brother.
Truthfully, I am glad that Harrison is going somewhere else. The way this guy was grandstanding and promoting his announcement on the local sports radio show just reeks of arrogance and that is not what this team needs. This team needs players who are going to put their head down, be humble, and work hard.
They don't need some JUNIOR COLLEGE player who thinks he is better than he is. I mean he came from a JUNIOR COLLEGE.
We don't want Harrison. Especially a guy who would turn his back on his hometown school that is on the way up.
Missouri wasn't much better than UNLV about 3 years ago.
I have sat down and talked to Harrison. He is a great kid, and not at all arrogant. Not at all.
I admire anyone who doesnt give up on their dreams. Most kids would have given up once they didnt meet eligibility requirements - but instead he went to a JuCo and is making his dreams come true. Its the American way - perserverance pays off. I admire him for that.
He wanted to play immediately on the biggest football stage. I thought he was NC State bound, but you cant blame him for going to Missouri. Big 12, immediate playing time, TV exposure, etc.
He is a good person and anyone who thinks otherwise just hasnt met him. He isnt some hardhead like you might think. Humble and down to earth. Very much so.
Good luck to him.