Serra tight end Cole Harrison commits to Tennessee, day before early National Signing Day celebration
It's going to be a giant celebration in Serra's gymnasium on Wednesday.
After Cole Harrison's announcement the night before, that party will be even grander.
The 6-foot-6, 220-pound tight end, who emerged as the Padres No. 1 receiving threat in 2023, announced graciously on X, formally known as Twitter, that he's committed to the University of Tennessee. He thanked his teammates, coaches and family for paving the way to Knoxville.
Harrison will be one of now nine Padres who will sign national letters of intent to play at Division I programs. He along with defensive end Collin Tahitua were the only uncommitted players until Tuesday night not to commit to programs for Serra, which finished 12-1 in 2023 and have gone 41-4 over the last four seasons.
Cole Harrison often dwarfed smaller and shorter linebackers and defensive backs.
Dennis Lee, SBLive Sports
The 2024 Class is considered Serra's most talented and accomplished in a program that has produced such NFL stars as Tom Brady, Lynn Swann, Jesse Freitas and current Packers' offensive lineman David Bakhtiari.
The other Padres planning to sign Wednesday are linebacker Jabari Mann and safety Joseph Bey (to San Jose State), quarterback Maealiuaki Smith (Oklahoma State), linebackers Danny Niu (San Diego State) and Marley Alapati (Army), athletes Jaden Green (San Diego) and Kyon Loud (Montana) and offensive tackle John Holthaus (Colorado State). Long snapper Michael Pedrotti will attend and play football at Ivy League school Brown.
Turns out Harrison is the only Padre to join a Power 5 conference. He definitely has that kind of talent. He had other offers from Washington State, Pittsburgh, Houston, San Diego State and San Diego State.
According to 247Sports, he visited Knoxville for the first time on Friday.
Serra coach Patrick Walsh believes Harrison's upside is limitless.
"Cole has a tremendous upside and his best football is ahead of him," he said. "He has a great work ethic and loves the game and this is going yo take him very far in this game. He has a chance to play on Sundays someday if he continues to drive to be the best he can be."
