4-Star Todd Harris Talks Favorites, Visit Plans and Key Factors in Decision

NEW ORLEANS — Entering Sunday’s New Orleans Nike Regional, 4-star safety Todd Harris was one of a handful of in-state stars looking to make a statement.

For the 6’0”, 180-pounder out of Plaquemine High School, the event gave him a chance to showcase why he and other stars from “the boot” deserve to be rated among the nation’s elite.

“It’s a privilege to be born in Louisiana. We’re basically off the radar so a lot of guys sleep on us,” Harris told Bleacher Report. “That’s a good thing because it just motivates us more to compete.”

His day started off with a couple of personal bests in the testing portion of the event.

“I broke some of my records today. I ran a 4.51 [in the 40-yard dash],” Harris said. “I increased my vertical jump, but my power ball went down.” 

The event concluded with him being the only defensive back to earn an invitation to The Opening in July.

Harris was able to display the range and athleticism needed to play corner or safety at the next level—which is why he’s earned more than 15 offers to date.

A trio of SEC West powers are among the schools that are standing out to Harris at the moment.

“As of right now, I don’t really have a definite top school. A top 3 right now would be LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. But that is indefinite,” Harris stated. “It’s more of the three schools I’ve been speaking with.”

He elaborated on why those schools are in a good spot early with him.

LSU Tigers: "They are basically in my backyard. It’s probably going to be tough to pull me away from them. After I take more visits throughout the summer and during my senior year, maybe that could change."

Ole Miss Rebels: "I haven’t really been to Ole Miss yet. I was planning to go a week or two ago, but we ended up having to go to Georgia to play in a seven-on-seven tournament. So I will probably end up going to Ole Miss in the summertime, probably for their summer camp. But, I like how they use their defensive backs in their scheme."

Mississippi State Bulldogs: "I was up there like a month or two ago. I enjoyed my time up there. We got to watch a basketball game, meet some players and meet the coaches. We got to tour the school and the field and learn about the academic program there. It was pretty nice."

Additionally, he took a recent visit to see another heavyweight out of the SEC.

“I took a visit to Georgia last weekend. Georgia was nice. The coaching staff was nice,” Harris said. “The campus is amazing. Their players were getting after it. It’s just something about Athens.”

Harris notes that out-of-state trips are random occurrences, which complicates his attempts to map out visit plans in the coming months. Still, he has an idea on the schools he wants to see soon, and he has an immediate trip lined up for this weekend.

“I want to go back to visit Alabama again,” Harris said. “I want to go visit Ole Miss, TCU, Tennessee. Me and [defensive backs] coach [Willie] Martinez have been talking, so I want to check them out. Obviously, I want to go to LSU. It’s like I stay over there. It’s my second home, so I can always go to LSU. I’ll be there next week for the spring game.”

He singled out Clemson, Kentucky, UCLA and USC as schools he wants to hear from more. Of the schools who have offered him, LSU and Ole Miss are the two he said are coming after him the hardest.

He also hasn’t identified when he wants to make his decision, although he has flirted with two events as possibilities.

“Maybe at the Under Armour game or on signing day. I haven’t really decided. I’m going to talk it over with my parents and see what they think about it first,” Harris said.

The nation’s No. 4 safety and the No. 57 player overall reports a 3.5 GPA with tentative plans to major in either law or sports medicine. There are a few factors that will weigh heavily on him when it’s time to pick his home at the college level.

“It’s going to be a tough one. I want to make sure I have a good relationship with the coaches and that I’m comfortable with the school,” Harris said. “I want the school to have a great education background. I will just leave everything else in God’s hands.”

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.