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I pulled the ultimate dick move by teasing you guys yesterday afternoon with news of a new commitment (in the Alfred Pullom thread) and then not coming through, and for that I apologize profusely. I originally wrote this post with the intent of scheduling it for yesterday evening when the news was still fresh, intent that went unfulfilled. The time has now come to correct that mistake.
Baylor received yet another commitment for its 2013 class yesterday morning from Wesley Harris, a quarterback from Fort Worth Southwest HS in Fort Worth. If that HS seems familiar to you, it's because Southwest is the home to Robbie Rhodes, Baylor's highest-ranked recruit for this class. Harris was the quarterback for Southwest this past season, including that fateful night when he and Rhodes hooked up for a national record 9 TDs in a single game. Despite that fact and the likelihood, as far as I know, that he will play QB for Southwest again this season, the recruiting services uniformly list him as an "athlete," which is often recruiting-speak for "QB now but eh...." or something similar thereto. ESPN lists him as a CB in their article about his commitment. I agree with that assessment, though he doesn't exactly fit the Phil Bennett CB profile. We might see him move to offense. Check out his info below the jump.
Name: Wesley Harris
School: Southwest HS (Fort Worth, TX)
Position: ATH
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180
40 Time: <4.50
Links/Ranks: Rivals (2*, 5.4 RR), Scout (UR), 247Sports (UR), ESPN (UR)
Major Offers: Baylor ... and that's it so far.
Aside from the fact that his commitment likely eliminates any remaining doubt (and there shouldn't have been any) that Robbie Rhodes might look around, Harris is an impressive athlete in his own right. Even as a QB, his game is predicated on incredible speed-- he is the second leg on the same 4A state champion relay team that Robbie Rhodes anchors-- in an offense that utilizes the zone read extensively. His offer sheet leaves something to be desired due to what I expect is probably confusion about his position. If he can't/won't play QB in college, do you move him to receiver (where he played a bit his sophomore year), cornerback (would be a first for him as far as I know), or somewhere else? Am I wrong to watch that ESPN highlight video and wonder if he couldn't be a RB someday? Can I end a sentence in something other than a question mark?
The good news for Baylor fans is that his offer came after this past week's camp, where our coaches were able to see him perform in person. The offer to (potentially) join what is already a crowded defensive backfield in this class (I mentioned yesterday that I didn't expect us to take any more corners or safeties, but i was apparently wrong) means they saw enough that they liked in the speedster to give him a spot in a rapidly-filling recruiting class.
I'll leave it with another teaser: SicEmSports, Baylor's Rivals site is reporting that another commitment could be short in the making. I have a sneaking suspicion they're talking about Gus Penning, a monster (he's 6-6, 245!) JUCO TE with 3 years to play 3. I promise that update will be much more timely if and when that commitment should come.