Illinois defensive back Jermari Harris commits to Iowa
By Tyler Devine
IOWA CITY, Iowa – It didn’t take 2019 defensive back Jermari Harris long to decide that he wanted to be a Hawkeye.
Harris, a native of Lombard, Ill., announced his commitment to Iowa on Monday less than a week after receiving a scholarship offer.
“It means the world to me,” Harris said. “I know I’m now held to a higher standard and I’m ready to re-raise the bar.”
Harris, a two-star prospect according to Rivals.com, could have jumped on any of the other offers he already had, but something told him to stick it out and see if any other schools came along.
“(I went with) my gut,” Harris said. “Everyone told me to go with my gut and my gut was telling me I will be a Hawkeye.”
Another major factor in Harris’ commitment was the honest dialogue he had with Iowa recruiting coordinator Tyler Barnes throughout the process.
“Honesty (was a big part of it),” Harris said. “Honesty is a big part of my life.”
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Harris is the fifth Illinois native and the 21st player overall to commit to Iowa’s 2019 recruiting class.
He joins Michigan native Daraun McKinney, Florida native Dane Belton and Illinois native Sebastian Castro as the defensive backs in Iowa’s class.
Harris also had scholarship offers from Ball State, Eastern Illinois, Indiana State, North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, South Dakota, South Dakota State and Southern Illinois.
Iowa’s 2019 recruiting class
Tyler Endres, OL, 6-6, 280, Norwalk, Iowa
Logan Lee, TE, 6-5, 225, Orion, Ill.
Ezra Miller, OL, 6-6, 310, Holstein, Iowa
Noah Fenske, OL, 6-5, 280, New Hampton, Iowa
Jack Campbell, LB, 6-4, 210, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Sebastian Castro, DB, 6-1, 198, Oak Lawn, Ill.
Desmond Hutson, WR, 6-4, 190, Raytown, Mo.
Jestin Jacobs, LB, 6-4, 205, Clayton, Ohio
Jake Karchinksi, DL, 6-5, 245, De Pere, Wis.
Alex Padilla, QB, 6-2, 195, Greenwood Village, Co.
Jalen Hunt, DE, 6-2, 250, Belleville, Mich.
Justin Britt, OL, 6-4, 282, Indianapolis, Ind.
Dane Belton, DB, 6-1, 185, Tampa, Fla.
Tyler Goodson, RB, 5-10, 192, Suwanee, Ga.
Josiah Miamen, TE, 6-4, 225, Dunlap, Ill.
Chris Reames, DE, 6-7, 220, Van Meter, Iowa
Yahweh Jeudy, LB, 6-2, 215, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Daraun McKinney, DB, 5-10, 179, River Rouge, Mich.
Shadrick Boyd, RB, 5-10, 210, Alabaster, Ala.
Sam LaPorta, TE, 6-4, 215, Highland, Ill.
Jermari Harris, DB, 6-1, 175, Lombard, Ill.
