LSU Signs QB Brandon Harris to Financial-Aid Agreement

LSU’s future at quarterback just got a little brighter with the announcement that the team would be signing quarterback Brandon Harris to a financial-aid agreement.

Harris announced the news via Twitter on Thursday morning:

"

#excited #letterofintent! #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/qpZmPkN3B1

— B Harris (@bharrisqb1) November 7, 2013"

However, a financial-aid agreement should not be confused with a letter of intent.

Unlike the latter, the agreement does not bind the student-athlete to the school. Although it obligates the school to honor the scholarship, the student-athlete is not tied to the school and can still enroll elsewhere or sign a binding letter of intent with a different school in February.

More specifically, student-athletes who sign a financial-aid agreement must be eligible to graduate high school in the middle of the academic year. Thus allowing them to enroll early at the university of their choosing.

Additionally, once an agreement is signed, the school is no longer prohibited from NCAA regulations that restrict in-person contact, phone calls and home visits with student-athletes.

The option is made available after Aug. 1 of an eligible prospect’s senior year.

With the news, Harris becomes the first recruit nationally known that has utilized the new NCAA rule interpretation, announced last month.

Furthermore, he is a very valuable addition to LSU’s quarterback crop. Harris, a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com, is ranked No. 58 in the ESPN 300 and is the third-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2014.

After seeing what first-year offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has done with Zach Mettenberger, one can only imagine what he can do with up to four years with Harris.

Harris chose LSU over offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Auburn, UCLA and Nebraska.