Bunnell's Mark Harrison, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound wide receiver has reportedly verbally committed to Rutgers.

The football recruiting site, Rivals.com, had this statement on its site today:

"An offer written in scarlet recently made it's way up to Bunnell High School in Connecticut and landed in the hands of 6-foot-4, 220-pound wide receiver Mark Harrison."

A source close to the Bunnell football program says that report is "pretty much" a done deal, and that Harrison made his decision "very recently."

Bunnell coach Craig Bruno would not comment on the decision.


Below is an article that was posted on StateofRugters.com:


StateofRutgers.com has introduced fans to several of the top prospects on the Rutgers board this season, and perhaps topping them all is Bunnell wideout Mark Harrison. Harrison, a freakish athlete who currently stands at 6-foot-4 and 221-lbs, has committed to play his collegiate football for the Scarlet Knights.

Mark Harrison is an elite physical specimen who was first recognized at a 7-on-7 tournament in Fla. covered by Scout.com. Soon thereafter, Harrison had an outstanding performance at the BigTime Showcase where he ran two sub 4.50 yard dash times. His second time, a sizzler that stunned even the timekeepers, of 4.38-seconds, is almost unfathomable for a prospect of his size.

At that event, he showed tremendous explosion in and out of his routes and flashed great upside. Harrison then began sending his tape to various colleges and the interest went through the roof.

“I know a lot of schools started coming by after the Big Time Showcase and then we started sending out tapes. I don’t think too many schools knew about me then. And luckily enough, Rutgers was a place that started recruiting me. From my first time on the campus, I knew that was where I wanted to go. Coach Rippon was my main recruiter and we clicked right away. He made me feel like he was going to look after me on and off the field. Coach Schiano told me he thought I could really develop as a player and person at Rutgers. Both me and my mom trusted him. It is the perfect school for me,” stated Harrison.

There is some outside speculation as to what position Harrison may ultimately play, which adds to his intrigue as a player. Harrison is a prospect many think will grow in to the TE position. Already possessing phenomenal strength with a bench press over 315-lbs, and with a frame his High School Coach Joe Bruno feels could add 35 more pounds, he would have that special size-speed-combo similar to former Rutgers TE LJ Smith.

However, Harrison playing at the WR position would better utilize his biggest strength: his leaping ability. Already possessing a 39” vertical leap and winning a state championship in the high jump last year, Harrison has that special explosion one loves in an athlete. Combine that with stats such as close to 15 rebounds per game in basketball, and a dunking ability that would make a fourth year college forward blush, adds testament to his superb athleticism.

One of Harrison's chief fortes would be his ability to come down with the ball in jump ball situations. When SOR earlier in the year asked Harrison what his biggest strength was he started: “I can go up there and get that ball.” Indeed, with a dunking ability that that allows his elbow to literally touch the basketball rim, Harrison's athletic ability is downright scary.

Which ever direction Rutgers chooses to go with in the development of this young man on the playing field will be determined by his physical evolution in the future. For now, Harrison has been told by the Rutgers coaching staff that he is being recruited to play the WR position, which is the actual preference for him. If opponents have gotten tired of covering Kenny Britt for three years (following the conclusion of this upcoming season), they may have even bigger issues when Harrison eventually akes the field.