JUCO linebacker gives Paul Rhoads an early Christmas gift

Last week, Iowa State football found possible replacements for Jacques Washington and Deon Broomfield on the JUCO trail. On Tuesday night, Jeremiah George’s substitution very well might have been landed.

Jordan Harris, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound middle linebacker out of Copiah-Lincoln C.C. in Wesson, Miss. gave his verbal commitment to Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads via the telephone.

“Coach Rhoads told me that this was an early Christmas present for him,” Harris told CycloneFanatic.com. “It made me feel like I was their top guy and everything has been based around me.”

Harris had an official visit scheduled at Cincinnati for this upcoming weekend but has decided to cancel it due to his confidence about wanting to become a Cyclone. Harris’ primary recruiter, Iowa State defensive coordinator Wally Burnham, and a tradition of strong linebackers in Ames were major reasons for that. 

“You can’t compare the linebackers of Iowa State with any other linebackers,” Harris said. “They have had first team All-Big 12 linebackers for the last four or five years. That means a lot to me. It gives me a lot to work for in the off-season.”

Harris said that Burnham is scheduled to visit him at Copiah-Lincoln on Wednesday.  

With the departure of Jeremiah George, Iowa State’s middle linebacker position is currently wide open and there is no reason to think that Harris won’t be the front-runner to land that starting spot when the Cyclones host North Dakota State in 2014’s season-opener.

Harris will be on Iowa State’s campus this January and plans to participate in spring drills.