Baylor defensive lineman Christian Harris, rear, pursues McCallie's DeAngelo Hardy during their teams' rivalry matchup in October 2018. Harris signed with Western Carolina on Wednesday.A trend of stout defensive linemen going on to play college football continues for the Chattanooga area.
Baylor's Christian Harris picked Western Carolina on Wednesday, with his decision to play for the Football Championship Subdivision and Southern Conference program coming down to the later hours of national signing day, the start of the traditional signing period for college football.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Harris was considered the No. 58 top prospect in the state and a three-star defensive end by 247Sports.com. He also was a member of the Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen in 2018.
"It was a hard process choosing between 31 collegiate offers," said Harris, whose list included Army, Navy and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
His decision to pick the Catamounts ended up being straightforward - and forward-looking.
"I feel like they can help me get to the next level," Harris said. "They helped (defensive back) Keion Crossen get to the NFL, and he just won a Super Bowl with the Patriots."
Harris, who lined up at multiple spots on the Red Raiders' defensive line the past three seasons, provided a quick burst off the line and a bull-rushing presence. As a senior, he totaled 66 tackles, with seven for loss and four sacks on his way to a first-team selection for the Division II-AAA East/Middle all-region team.
"I believe my first step and my hands are my biggest strength," Harris said. "My new coaches told me I have a chance to start right away. That's exciting because we come to play UTC in Chattanooga and also play N.C. State and Alabama (in 2019)."
Harris is not the first defensive line standout to turn heads over the past few years in a city also known for producing "Minister of Defense" Reggie White in the late 1970s. Former Notre Dame lineman Patrick Johnson just posted a 10-sack season for Tulane as a sophomore, and Red Bank's Keionta Davis was also part of the New England Patriots' Super Bowl victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night in Atlanta.
As the man of his household, Harris was grateful to be the first in his family to play at the next level. His mother, Lisa, went on all his recruiting trips with him and was driven to tears during her son's signing party.
"I hope people think of me as a standout person," Harris said. "I will always represent what Baylor means, which is to lead by example."
Baylor coach Phil Massey was proud of Harris, who also had to overcome an injury his junior season to come back and create problems for opposing offensive lines this past year.
"All of Baylor is extremely proud of him," Massey said. "He has the ability to overcome and fight. We will certainly be following his career at the next level."
Red Bank's Calvin Jackson picks Wofford
Red Bank senior Calvin Jackson put on a Wofford Terriers hat Wednesday, and the versatile athlete expects the SoCon program to use him in a fashion similar to the Lions.
The shifty and explosive Jackson (5-11, 190) played quarterback, running back and receiver during his Red Bank career. He totaled 5,939 yards and 85 touchdowns for the Lions, including 864 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns with 718 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his senior season.
"Red Bank is my home," Jackson said. "I am proud of what I have accomplished here and am grateful it's taking me all the way to college."
Other decisions
Here's a rundown of Chattanooga-area high school football players who had signed as part of the 2019 recruiting class by Wednesday and announced their decisions to the Times Free Press, with high school listed first and college second:
Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen
WR/FS Brannon Spector, Calhoun (6-2, 185), Clemson (December signee)
LB Davis Allen, Calhoun (6-5, 210), Clemson (December signee)
OL Luke Griffin, North Murray (6-5, 305), Missouri (December signee)
WR Cameron Wynn, Notre Dame (5-9, 175) Florida Atlantic University
OL Fred Norman, Ridgeland (6-5, 300), undecided
LB Andre Tarver, Ringgold (6-2, 195), Mississippi State (baseball signee)
WR Calvin Jackson, Red Bank (5-11, 185), Wofford
RB Mondo Ellison, Chattanooga Christian (6-1, 200), undecided
DL Christian Harris, Baylor (6-3, 260), Western Carolina
K Ivan Mora, Dalton (5-11, 170), Wake Forest (December signee)
RB Dominique Sistrunk, Northwest Whitfield (6-1, 220), Mars Hill
OL Cam Stewart, McCallie (6-3, 310), Tennessee State
Other Chattanooga-area signees
QB Warner Ashworth, Whitwell, Cumberlands (Ky.)
WR/DB Bralin Barton, Calhoun, Pikeville
LB Monroe Beard, Notre Dame, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
WR Brandon Benn, McCallie, Yale
LB Kristopher Bowman, McCallie, Samford, preferred walk-on
LB Solomon Bridgeman, Tyner, Tennessee State
WR Pete Brower, Ringgold, Moorhead State
RB Ivan Buckner, Brainerd, Community Christian
DB Calvin Dallas, Ridgeland, Union (Ky.)
DL Victor Dodd, Cleveland, Cumberlands (Ky.)
DB David Dorsey, Cleveland, Tennessee State
LB Quindarrius Dunnigan, McCallie, MTSU
OL/DL Colton Edwards, Rhea County, Tusculum
RB Jordan Ford, Notre Dame, Garden City CC
DL Jabron Hale, South Pittsburg, Bethel
OL Alex Higgins, Cleveland, Carson-Newman
DB Tripp Hoblitzell, Calhoun, Birmingham-Southern
WR Malone Howley, Signal Mountain, Penn
OL Wyatt Hughes, McCallie, Furman
LB Chandler Kaylor, Rhea County, Cumberlands (Ky.)
OL Tyler King, Dade County, Georgia Prep Academy
OL Cade Nayadley, Ringgold, Jacksonville State
RB/DB Tarik Nelson, Notre Dame, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
TE Robert North, Brainerd, St. Scholastica
WR Trey Owten, Brainerd, New Mexico Highlands
K Scott Payne, Signal Mountain, MTSU, preferred walk-on
QB Zach Pemberton, Rhea County, Cumberland (Tenn.)
DB Hudson Petty, Whitwell, Jacksonville State
RB Sincere Quinn, Ooltewah, East Tennessee State University
DB Stone Roebuck, McCallie, Berry
WR/DB Alonzo Russell, East Ridge, Cumberlands (Ky.)
WR/DB Drew Rutledge, Calhoun, Georgia Southern
C Sidney Stallworth, Brainerd, Middle Georgia State
DB Shannon Walker, McCallie, Cumberlands (Ky.)
DB Jamaal Ward, Brainerd, Middle Georgia State
OL Alex Williams, Cleveland, Tennessee State
WR Travion Williams, Signal Mountain, Tennessee Tech
DB Shawn Wilson, Ridgeland, Union College
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.