One of the top offensive linemen in the state is staying home.
Three-star Viewmont offensive lineman Alex Harrison announced on Thursday that he is committing to Utah.
Harrison received offers from Oregon, USC, Nebraska, BYU, Arizona State and Utah State, along with the Utes.
In front of a large group of family members, friends and the Viewmont football team, Harrison ripped open his shirt to display a Utah logo and put on an Ute hat as the crowd of over 100 people cheered.
“In every sense of the word, it was the best fit for me. The people there, the coaching staff, everything about it, the players — it just made it. It’s home, it’s family,” Harrison said.
The 6-4, 310-pound lineman visited other schools that offered him, but ended up comparing them to Utah and noticing that they didn’t compare.
Harrison is friends with offensive linemen Nick Ford and Orlando Umana, which should make the transition to the U. easier.
He is happy to stay home and be close to his family.
“The fact that I can stay home, it’s far enough away I can live my own life, but close enough that on weekends I can come home and steal some food from my mom,” he said.
Before unveiling his decision, Harrison gave a shoutout to his mom, who raised him as a single mom.
“My mom sacrificed so much and she did everything to put me in a position to succeed, even if it meant sacrificing so much of her time,” Harrison said. “It kind of means everything. I wouldn’t be where I am and the person I am today without her. I’m so grateful and thankful for her.”
Also in attendance at the ceremony was former Ute head coach Ron McBride. Harrison has known McBride since his freshman year.
“Going into my sophomore year, I realized that I was going to have to play both ways and not just defense. I didn’t really know a whole lot about offense,” Harrison said. “I’ve been working with him for the last three years.”
Offensive line coach Jim Harding and defensive end coach Lewis Powell were Harrison’s main recruiters.
“I’m really thankful for them because some schools get really, really pushy and they kind of put you on the spot. Utah’s never been like that. They’ve always told me how much they wanted me, they never were really pushy,” Harrison said. “They said, ‘This has got to be a decision you make yourself, and pressuring you into it is not going to do anything.’”
Besides Utah’s football program, the academics stood out to Harrison, who hopes to major in sports medicine.
Harrison said that a single word describes Utah’s football program: family.
“Everything they do up there, you do it for the person next to you. I’m out here, I’m busting my butt, I’m doing everything I can, but I’m not doing it just for myself, I’m doing it for the person next to me so we can all succeed,” he said.
He is hoping to help the Utes get back to the Pac-12 championship next year — and win it.
“That’s everything. I committed today, but I’ve known for a long time where I’ve wanted to go. Watching that Pac-12 Championship Game last week was a heartbreaker, but next year we’re coming out to take the south and we’ll be out there in Las Vegas, this time, and we will take home that trophy,” he said.