In-state DL Jamarrion Harkless backs off commitment to Illinois

After a busy summer, we’re seeing a lot of recruiting developments happen on the trail. Commitments are being reported quickly, and Kentucky is continuously adding players to its roster. However, there is action on the other end.

We are starting to see some decommitments as things begin to change after the summer recruiting months. A big one occurred in the Bluegrass on Tuesday. Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass defensive tackle Jamarrion Harkless is now an uncommitted prospect.

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— Jamarrion Harkless (@JamarrionHarkl2) August 9, 2022

Jamarrion Harkless is the No. 739 ranked prospect in the class of 2023 according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Ranked the No. 7 prospect in Kentucky, Harkless pledged to Illinois on his official visit weekend in June and immediately shut down his recruitment.

That recruitment is now wide open two months later.

Over the spring, Harkless saw a bunch of recruiting interest once Georgia issued the three-star prospect a written scholarship offer. Kentucky and a few other Power Five programs followed that and issued offers. Some of those programs will now likely be reaching out to the in-state prospect.

Under head coach Nathan McPeek, Frederick Douglass has become a pipeline school for Kentucky football. Jager Burton, Dekel Crowdus, and Dane Key will all be on Kentucky’s roster this fall. Rising senior Ty Bryant is Kentucky commit in the class of 2022.

If Kentucky feels the need to add another interior defensive line target, there will be a prospect of note available in their own backyard. Jamarrion Harkless has four official visits remaining and could be a busy man over the next couple of months.