Pitt FB Recruiting
2024 3-Star WR Audric Harris Picks Up Pitt Offer During First Phone Call With Tiquan Underwood
It’s uncommon in the recruiting process — at least Audric Harris’ — for a coach to extend an offer the same day he first makes contact.
But on the same day that Tiquan Underwood first hit up Harris — a 6-foot, 175-pound three-star wide receiver from Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, Nevada — on Twitter, he extended an official offer. Of course, Harris doesn’t mind.
“It feels great,” Harris told PSN. “It felt good talking to coach Underwood and getting to know him. I knew a little bit about Pitt, knowing Jordan Addison and what he did at Pitt and knowing that I could probably go there and do the same thing, it’s a great feeling.”
After a great conversation with @TiUnderwood I am blessed to say I have received an offer from Pitt! #GoPanthers 🟡🔵 @CoachDuzzPittFB @CoachKlineAlex @iamdreu @CoachPGill @BishopGormanFB@VaBranch @bangulo @ChadSimmons@adamgorney @BHoward_11@BrandonHuffman @GregBiggins pic.twitter.com/gJpTOxHNoP
— Audric Harris (@audricharris2) April 23, 2023
Underwood sent Harris a direct message on Twitter Sunday morning, they traded numbers and he got Harris on the phone later that day. When the phone call ended an offer, he was certainly surprised.
Harris’ calls with coaches, at least first calls, usually go well. There’s a feeling out process, getting to know each other and a promise to continue the relationship with an offer down the line. Not with Underwood.
“It was kinda surprising, but also knowing it was coming from Pitt, I was also very surprised,” Harris said. “It kinda made me excited.”
Pitt joined a growing offer list that includes Arizona, Colorado State, Hawaii, Nevada, San Diego State, UNLV and Washington State — all of his Power Five offers arriving within the last couple of months.
The relationship between Harris and Pitt — between Harris and Underwood — is fresh. It just started two days ago, but the first impression was strong. Underwood told Harris about himself, they talked a bit of shop and Harris was able to see how much Underwood cares about football and their growing relationship.
Underwood was very complimentary of Harris’ route running, his ability to smoothly get in and out of breaks, and that exact praise gave Harris a sense of pride.
“That’s something I take pride in myself, my route running,” Harris said. “I feel like I’m one of the best route runners in my class or in the nation. Whatever anybody wants to say, I feel like I’m one of the best route runners that I know.”
In just two games recorded on MaxPreps at powerhouse Bishop Gorman, Harris recorded four receptions for 79 yards (19.8 yards per reception) and a touchdown — and he further showcased his smoothness in his 7-on-7 work — which recently took him to North Carolina.
247Sports rates Harris as the 148th-ranked athlete in the class and the seventh-ranked recruit from Nevada. Neither Rivals nor On3 has rated him yet, but as he’s picked up Power Five interest this spring, that will change.
The recruiting chase has led him to Arizona and Arizona State over the last month, and he has plans for unofficial visits to San Diego State and Washington State in the near future.
Obviously, it’s a bit tougher to make it out to Pittsburgh, but Harris is excited to continue to build a relationship with Underwood and the entire coaching staff.
He expects to make an unofficial visit in the near future, bringing his whole family with him, and it’s a chance to see if the relationship with Underwood extends to the school as a whole.
“He told me to be straight up front with him and he’s gonna be straight up front with me, so he said if I don’t like the school or there’s something I don’t like, he just wants me to be honest with him, and that’s what I would do, but I don’t think that would happen because it’s Pitt,” Harris said.
“I know about Pitt and how they play football and everything. So, I’m pretty sure if I visit, I’ll like it.”
Aside from San Diego State, Washington State and Pitt, Harris is also looking at visits to Penn State and Tennessee — who have invited him out for unofficial visits, too.
He wants to be able to commit either in the summer before the season begins or at the very least in the first weeks of the season. As of right now, his commitment chase could be ranked as Arizona, Washington State, San Diego State and Pitt.
“Just because of how much interest coach Underwood is showing, and that’s usually what I gravitate toward in a coach is style of play and the football team and how much interest they show,” Harris said.
Pitt currently has a commitment from four-star wide receiver DayDay Farmer, and there will be a few more added to the class of 2024.
Surprising that Pitt offered a scholarship after just one call. This WR’s highlight reel shows pretty average skills.