Downingtown East returns several key offensive pieces from its District 1 AAAA quarterfinalist team a season ago. One of those pieces is a Division-1 FBS prospect bound for the Big Ten Conference.
Jay Harris, a 5’10, 180-pound wide receiver for the Exton-based Cougars, issued a verbal declaration to Michigan State Monday, according to 247sports.com.
In addition to the Spartans, Harris held offers from Old Dominion and Temple and received interest from programs like Connecticut, Maryland, Penn State, Pitt and Rutgers, among others. He becomes the second PA athlete to issue a declaration to Michigan State, joining Erie Cathedral Prep quarterback Damion Terry.
Downingtown East’s list of potential Division-1 prospects doesn’t end with Harris, but also includes quarterback Kyle Lauletta and linebacker Nelson Lee Lucas-Murphy.
Harris was ranked as the No. 109 wide receiver in the 2013 recruiting class and rated as a three-star prospect by Scout.com.
The featured target in a Cougar aerial assault which averaged 164.3 yards and 31.9 points per game in 2011, Harris hauled in a team-leading 53 receptions for 732 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 13.8 yards per reception.
Downingtown East finished 9-3 last season, reaching the District 1 AAAA quarterfinals against Council Rock South before falling to the Golden Hawks, 31-19, and enter the 2012 season having won 28 of their last 37 games.
