Frederick Douglass DL Jamarrion Harkless commits to Auburn

One of the Bluegrass State’s top recruits could soon line up across from the Kentucky Wildcats.

On Sunday afternoon, three-star defensive lineman Jamarrion Harkless announced his commitment to the Auburn Tigers. Harkless is a 6-foot-4, 315-pound senior at Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington and is considered the No. 746 overall prospect in the country, according to the On3 Consensus.

“It feels great to commit,” Harkless told Auburn Live. “I see what Auburn has building and also the new facilities. I can see that this program is going back to where it was. I just want to be a part of.”

Harkless first committed to Illinois back in June but backed off that decision a few months later in August. Ever since, Auburn has been one of the frontrunners, bringing Harkless on campus for visits the last two weekends. He was down to a final four of Auburn, Louisville, Michigan, and Ole Miss before landing with the Tigers.

Despite being in Kentucky’s own backyard, the coaching staff never put their chips all in on Harkless. His recruitment initially blew up in April when he hauled in offers from the likes of Georgia, Michigan, and LSU within 48 hours. Kentucky quickly got in on the action with an offer as well, but never seriously recruited Harkless, even after his decommitment from Illinois.