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Four-star Harrison picks Huskers

Nebraska's second commitment of the holiday was its biggest. Four-star wide receiver Monte Harrison, the No. 236-ranked prospect in America, decided to end his recruitment with a pledge to the Cornhuskers on the evening of July 4, choosing Bo Pelini's program over scholarship offers from 10 other schools.
The news broke just minutes after Nebraska's acquisition of tight end Freedom Akinmoladun went public and represented a surge of momentum for the Huskers. Harrison, whose stock has been rising since earning MVP honors at the St. Louis stop of the Rivals Camp Series Presented By Under-Armour, said his decision to end the process early was spurred on by a general feeling.
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The cause is unimportant, though. In this case, the result is the only thing that matters to Pelini and his staff.
"It happened today," Harrison said. "I just felt like the time was right. Just getting to know the coaches .. they showed a lot of interest in me. I felt like that was the place I wanted to go. So I talked to my mom and decided to go ahead and do it. It just felt right."
That's not to say other coaches are being turned away totally. Harrison says he may listen to other pitches and take other visits despite his verbal commitment. Then again, he may not. On Thursday afternoon, the decision was fresh and the details were fuzzy.
"I don't know at this time," Harrison said about his view on other campus visits. "I really don't know."
What Harrison does know, however, is that he intends to play both baseball and football at Nebraska … should he ever make it campus, that is.
Harrison's standing as a high-level baseball prospect leaves his college football future in limbo. As he sits nearly a year away from the professional baseball draft, he doesn't make projections.
But if the money is good enough and the opportunity is right, he may opt for a minor league ball cap instead of shoulder pads.
"That just all depends on where I might get drafted when that time comes," Harrison said. "I might play baseball if it all works out like that. I don't know for sure or anything."
But that's a decision for down the road. Thursday afternoon was all about college. And, more importantly, it was all about Nebraska. Harrison has plenty to say on that subject.
"Coach [John] Garrison - and all the coaches, really -- just made me feel a close connection," he said. "I've talked to the coaches and felt comfortable with them. I also talked to other kids that were committed there, and they made me feel even more comfortable."
Nebraska had been viewed as the leader to land Harrison's verbal pledge for some time.
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