Miami thought they were sitting pretty with the No. 2 ACC recruiting class for 2026 and nine commits, right? Well, plot twist. The Big 12 just swooped in and might’ve just derailed their dream of snagging that top spot. BYU just swiped the 56th overall and fifth-best tight end right from under their noses. Yeah, even with a class ranked way down at 36th and only five commits, BYU dug their heels in and got the deal done. Now that’s what we call a recruiting knockout.
Picture this: BYU, the underdog battling giants like Miami, Michigan, Georgia, Oregon, and Utah, just landed the verbal commitment of the four-star, 238-pound beast from St. George, Brock Harris. And Chad Simmons dropped the news on X: “NEWS: Brock Harris stays home! The 4-star TE committed to BYU over Georgia, Michigan, Utah, and others.” It’s a well-earned victory, considering they’ve been tracking Harris since his freshman year, and now Kalani Sitake and his crew finally got their guy.
The kicker? Miami wasn’t even a serious contender for Brock Harris. Talking about his decision, Harris revealed, “At different times, I liked different schools, but BYU was always toward the top, and it ended up being between them and Michigan when I made my decision. Every time I would go on a visit, I had a great feeling at BYU. At different places, my feelings would vary, but at BYU, it was always the same.” If a player visits a program over ten times, you know their interest is legit, right?
NEWS: Brock Harris stays home! The 4-star TE committed to BYU over Georgia, Michigan, Utah and others.
Harris said, “At different places, my feelings would vary, but at BYU, it was always the same.”
Story: https://t.co/1fKhROexy7 pic.twitter.com/33Hovrj9WF
— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) April 7, 2025
Turns out, Harris has been connecting with BYU’s coaches since he was just a kid, like way back in eighth grade when he went to one of their prospect camps. Those connections he made? They were strong enough for BYU to beat out some serious heavy hitters like Georgia, Oregon, and Michigan for this awesome tight-end recruit who grew up just a few hours away from campus. It’s pretty cool when those local ties end up being the deciding factor…and any more ties? His dad, Todd, was a former BYU baseball player.
More than anything, BYU’s culture and their tight end coach, Kevin Gilbride, made a huge impact on Brock Harris. He explained, “I had that comfort feeling at BYU and about BYU. I knew in my heart where I wanted to go. There wasn’t a specific visit or a certain moment, but over time, it built up with BYU. Every time I was there, I had that feeling about them.” He further added, “Coach Sitake, Coach Gilbride, Coach Clark, and so many others made it feel right. The people there, the plan they have for me in the offense, my religion, and how they use the tight end all were big in my decision.” That’s how you build trust with a recruit.
No wonder this is a massive win for the Cougars. Brock Harris earned a composite grade of .9719, making him the third-highest-rated prospect in BYU history. Even though he’ll embark on a two-year LDS mission after high school, BYU has landed a talented, nationally recognized player with serious potential at tight end.
And get this, Harris was a beast at Pine View High, racking up 128 catches for 1,796 yards and 22 touchdowns in three seasons, showcasing his dominance. Despite interest from programs nationwide, BYU made the biggest splash.
So, what does Brock Harris’ commitment bring to the BYU Cougars?
Well, it’s a significant recruiting victory, landing a four-star tight end who’s ESPN’s No. 33 overall recruit and the top player in Utah. This marks their highest-ranked high school addition since ESPN started ranking recruits in 2006. Harris’ decision not only breaks a recruiting lull but also injects major momentum into BYU’s 2026 class, seriously boosting expectations.
This commitment is more than just adding a star; it signals a real shift in momentum for the program. If Harris signs later this year, he’ll be only the seventh ESPN 300 prospect to join BYU in almost two decades. As the first four-star commit in their 2026 cycle, Harris is the top-rated player in the class. This early win gives Coach Kalani Sitake and his staff a major weapon in attracting even more top-tier talent.
Having already banked an 11-win season last year, they’ve got some serious momentum rolling into this, and Harris is giving props for that too. “I like what I am going into. The program is going up. You saw it last year, the record shows it and the offense did great. It is a great team and great program that I am committing to.”
Now, Harris’ commitment could be a game-changer, especially with his connections to other top targets like Ryder Lyons, Jaron Pula, and Kennan Pula. This could give BYU a serious edge. The best part? With Harris on board, BYU now has five commitments for 2026. While it’s early days, if Brock Harris becomes the catalyst for this class, Coach Sitake might be on the verge of something special in Provo. Keep your eyes peeled.
The post Top Miami Target Makes Bold Confession on Big 12 Team After Shocking Commitment Decision appeared first on EssentiallySports.