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'05 OH DB Brandon Harrison (Michigan signee)

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http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/preps/daily/0910harrison.html

He's got it covered
C-J's Harrison does it on offense, defense and special teams

By Mark Gokavi

Dayton Daily News

DAYTON | — Brandon Harrison wakes up early for school at Chaminade-Julienne. After the bell, there's football practice and homework (he is going to Notre Dame next fall).

That doesn't leave room for much else, except ?

"Sleep," Harrison said. "Oh, and I love watching movies. Action, horror, even romantic if I'm with the ladies."

Ladies? Plural? "I've got one main girl," the C-J senior amended. "She keeps me steady."

Harrison is more than just steady on the football field. The soon-to-be Fighting Irish defensive back is one of Ohio's best.

Like his film preferences, the 5-foot-10, 200-pounder enjoys a little bit of everything in football. Apart from playing corner on teams' top receiver and safety, he plays halfback and returns kicks.

In a Week 1 victory against Northmont, Harrison took a "bubble" pass 72 yards for a score. Last week in a win over Carroll, Harrison broke a punt return for 63-yard score.

Still, when people mention C-J football, the first name usually is running back and Mr. Football candidate Javon Ringer.

"The problem with great defensive backs is that people can run away from them," C-J coach Jim Place said. "Quarterback and tailback are the glamour positions."

The coach said that lack of recognition may have stung a couple years ago, but not now. With a Notre Dame scholarship offer in hand and a 2002 state title ring, the talkative, friendly Harrison has all the recognition he needs.

"That was cool," Harrison said of the punt return TD, then proudly added: " But I'm a defensive player. Leave the fame to the offensive players."

Place was asked who would be C-J's top runner if not Ringer. "Brandon," Place said without hesitation. "He'd do great. He'd be All-Ohio. He doesn't practice offense much. He makes all the calls on defense."

If Harrison had his way, he would have been 6-3, 235.

"I always wanted to play linebacker," he said. "When you're little, everybody is the same height and weight. Then some people get big and some get little."

Harrison and Ringer have been good friends for years. Harrison's buddy even makes sure he's on the right page on Friday nights. "Sometimes when we walk up to the line he tells me the play," Harrison said. "He'll say, '24 veer' to make sure I know.

"I don't know all the blocking schemes. When I'm on offense, I just run the ball and go where they tell me. I just try to run over somebody — not like Javon and his side-to-side. My technique when I run the ball is that I'm going so fast I can't break down and shake. I'm running so fast forward that if I break down, I'd just fall."

Last season, his 9-yard TD run in overtime gave C-J a 40-34 win over Carroll. This season, the Eagles' defense had its sights set on a lower number. The result was a 35-10 win. Carroll's lone TD came on a punt return.

"It was good to shut them out" of the end zone," Harrison said. "They had just three points on offense. We played solid defense and I had a few skulls (hard hits) but they didn't really pass that much. I had an interception but I dropped it. I was too excited."

Tonight, the 2-0 and nationally ranked (No. 23 by USA Today) Eagles are at Louisville Trinity, the three-time defending Kentucky big-school champions.

"It's going to be fun," Harrison said. "It's a game to show out in. It'll be interesting to see how they do things down there."

Harrison also keeps an eye on Notre Dame and the Irish coaching staff talk to him. Notre Dame lost to Brigham Young 20-17 last weekend. All defensive backs get beat and Harrison knows that only the next play matters. Still, that DB bravado is always present.

"They said they wished they had me now," Harrison said of Notre Dame. "I saw how some of their DBs against BYU got burned on straight streak routs and I was like, 'Man, I could've covered that.' "
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Harrison is shocked. He is going to wait and see what happens before making any decisions.

Still probably not much of a chance that tOSU would all of sudden take an interest in him.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/preps/daily/1201ndside.html

Notre Dame's move upsets local recruits
By Mark Gokavi
Dayton Daily News

The ramifications of Tyrone Willingham's departure as Notre Dame football coach reach the Miami Valley.

Two Notre Dame defensive back recruits — Chaminade-Julienne's Brandon Harrison and Miamisburg's David Bruton — had their futures affected. Both verbally committed to the Fighting Irish five months ago. The signing period begins in February.

"He was the reason I was going," Harrison said of Willingham. "We had a one-on-one conversation in his office. It was his character and personality. He was easy-going and cool, but he had that demeanor you respected. He was nobody to mess with."

Notre Dame's next coach will decide whether to honor Willingham's scholarship offers. Harrison and Bruton were scheduled to take official visits this weekend. Those plans are up in the air.

"My thoughts when I heard it was that it was bull," Bruton said. "I enjoyed being around coach Willingham. He was a good guy overall. I could see myself being coached by him."

Notre Dame defensive backs coach Steven Wilks visited both recruits last weekend and reportedly said there were rumors of a firing but not to worry. Harrison said the assistant coaches found out while on the road recruiting.

Bruton, who didn't remember his second or third choices, would like to go to Notre Dame if the new staff offers a scholarship.

Harrison will put Notre Dame back in the mix with Purdue, Tennessee, Iowa and Florida.

"I have other schools on the table; we'll just have to wait and see," he said. "I'll have to see what the new head coach is saying."
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Harrison will take a trip to Iowa this weekend for an official visit. He may still go to Notre Dame, depending on how he gets along with the eventual new coach. From the article:

Harrison also received calls from Florida, Tennessee, and Purdue this week. He indicated that Michigan and Ohio State both contacted his coach.
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http://www.southbendtribune.com/sto...20041202-sbt-MICH-C2-Uncertain_times_for_.sto

The Dayton, Ohio cornerback was told about Willingham's firing Tuesday afternoon by a counselor at Chaminade-Julienne High School. Harrison was so upset he left school early on Tuesday.

"He wasn't a happy camper," said Harrison's father, Eric. "It just kind of ruined his whole day."

The Harrisons had met with ND secondary coach Steven Wilks on Sunday, a day after the Irish ended the regular season with a 41-10 loss to top-ranked USC. During the discussion, Wilks was asked if there was any possibility the coaching staff could be in trouble after a 6-5 season.

"He said everything was fine. He said (athletic director Kevin) White was behind (Willingham) 110 percent," said Eric Harrison, who indicated his son may visit Iowa or Purdue this weekend, but remains committed to ND. "Obviously nobody saw this coming."
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Wow anyone checkout where he said he couldn't wait to play AGAINST osu.. sorry if this has been posted earlier..

he should've gone to camp and try to impress the coaches and none of this would've happened
 
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He certainly is a confident kid, no doubt. Some things must have occurred somewhere along the way that really turned him off to the Buckeye program or staff or something. I've never been able to understand an attitude such as this in Ohio kids, "I want to play against Ohio State" (not, for them), though I do try to respect it.

I recall Marlin Jackson, even though he's from PA, not Ohio, saying something to the same effect after he had committed to tsun. I don't know if someone said something to him while tOSU was recruiting him that rubbed him the wrong way or what, but he seemed to really have it in for the Bucks. It got worse two years ago when he was quoted after the 14-9 game as saying, "I'm tired of losing to these guys!" Marlin never really did shine in a big way against Ohio State, although he did have a couple of moments. Knowing he went 1-3 vs. the Bucks makes me feel pretty good. Watching Santonio put that little move on him and catch that short post for 6 two weeks ago was fantastic!

Now, Ryan Brewer on the other hand ...
 
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