Monday, Jan. 17, 2005 | 8:43 a.m.
A 6-foot-2, 205-poun- der, Harrison was one of six players to commit to UNLV over the weekend. He was the second member of the Sun's first-team all-state squad to commit to the Rebels, joining Cheyenne High School defensive lineman Perry Eppenger (6-foot-3, 317 pounds).
Harrison rushed for 683 yards in directing the Panthers' double-wing offensive attack and completed 33 of 56 passes for 763 yards with just one interception for the state 4A champions. He had 44 tackles and one interception as a defensive back despite playing the final month of the season with a badly bruised throwing shoulder.
Harrison originally was recruited as a wide receiver prospect by UNLV and Oregon State. However, he said he decided to turn down a chance to play in the Pac-10 when Sanford promised him a chance to compete at quarterback.
"That was the deciding factor," Harrison said. "Otherwise, I would have had to pick between being a Pac-10 wide receiver or a Mountain West Conference wide receiver."
But Harrison said the opportunity to play in front of family and friends was also a key.
"When I went to Corvallis on my recruiting trip, it was kind of a small town," he said. "I just felt it would be better for me to stay home and play in front of my friends."
Palo Verde High School coach Darwin Rost, who was named the Sun's state coach of the year last week, was happy to learn he'll be able to drive to Sam Boyd Stadium to watch his star quarterback play the next four or five years.
"It's pretty exciting news," Rost said. "I really like Mike Sanford. I think he's going to do a great job there. I think this is really an exciting time up there. And I'm happy for Jarrell. He's a big-time athlete who I think will do well there."
The Rebels are hoping to get commitments from at least two more top-notch Las Vegas recruits before the Feb. 2 signing date: Las Vegas High School offensive lineman A.J. Rodriguez (6-4, 300) and Cheyenne High School running back Torrie Coleman (6-2, 210).
Rodriguez, who earlier had given a nonbinding verbal commitment to New Mexico, is expected to re-think his decision over the next couple of days. Coleman still has recruiting trips planned to Oregon State and Colorado.
Also committing to the Rebels during their trip this weekend were Burbank (Calif.) High School quarterback Mike McDonald (6-1, 205), College of the Canyons tight end Chris Butler (6-3, 230), Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne High School wide receiver/defensive back Lamont Long (5-11, 170), Phoenix (Ariz.) Desert Vista running back Chris Brogdon (5-8, 205) and Jamul (Calif.) Steel Canyon linebacker Jason Beauchamp (6-3, 205).
Beauchamp, who had a school-record six sacks in a game as a sophomore, said he turned down offers from Boise State, Colorado, Washington and Arizona to attend UNLV.
Dick Lascola of Fallbrook, Calif.-based Scouting Evaluation Association, which serves more than 90 Division I colleges, said it was a lean year for talent in San Diego County this year but felt Beauchamp has the potential to be a good Division I player.
"His biggest asset is that he has room to grow and he runs well," Lascola said.
Lascola was also high on Butler, who played just six games in high school at Canyon Country (Calif.) Canyon High School due to injuries but starred for two years at nearby College of the Canyons JC in Newhall, Calif.
Long is a former prep teammate of highly touted Rebels safety Jeff Brown.
"He's very fast," Lascola said of Long. "He's still raw but he covers well."
McDonald threw for 2,300 yards, 25 touchdowns and threw just six interceptions this past season and set more than a dozen school passing marks during his career there.
Brogdon was a first-team all-Central Valley pick in Phoenix after rushing for 1,500 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior.
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