Football <\/p>\n
WAUKESHA \u2013 Donovan Harbour didn\u2019t plan to wrap up his college recruitment last week, it just happened.<\/p>\n
The junior guard from Catholic Memorial was at Penn State<\/a> for the Nittany Lions<\/a>\u2019 spring game. During the visit he and his mother had a sit-down with head coach James Franklin.<\/p>\n The coach made a connection.<\/p>\n \u201cI just liked the way he was conversating with me like I wasn\u2019t a kid, like I\u2019m progressing in my state of mind,\u201d Harbour said. \u201cI have to go to college, too (in addition to playing football) and he knows the downs and ups about it. He was just telling me about his background and where he came from and then I just committed.<\/p>\n \u201cTalking to him was just like I could have a regular conversation with anybody. I could talk to him about anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Harbour left Happy Valley as the Nittany Lions\u2019 10th known recruit for a 2024 class that currently ranks in the top 10 nationally of the rankings from Rivals, 247sports and On3 . He made his plans public on Tuesday, his 17th<\/sup> birthday, inside Memorial\u2019s gym after school.<\/p>\n Harbour got an assist on the moment of truth from his young cousin, Dehja Retic. When he was ready to reveal his choice, Harbour unsnapped the toddler’s jacket to reveal the Penn State T-shirt that was underneath. It was a cute moment that belies the kind of players he feels he’ll join once he gets to State College, Pa.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re just a bunch of dogs,\u201d he said. \u201cWatching the spring game, even the freshmen were just dogging out. I want to be a dog. I want to be special even if it\u2019s not in football.”<\/p>\n Harbour’s decision takes one of the state\u2019s elite prospects for 2024 off the board. The 6-foot-4, 330-pound guard is considered the top prospect in Wisconsin<\/a> for that class by 247sports<\/a> and is the No. 2 prospect in the state by Rivals<\/a> and On3<\/a>.<\/p>\n Harbour played tackle for Memorial as a sophomore when the Crusaders<\/a> won WIAA the Division 4 title<\/a> and moved to guard last season when the team was the Division 4 state runner-up<\/a>. He received almost two dozen high-major scholarship offers and on New Year\u2019s Eve trimmed his list to seven \u2013 Florida<\/a>, Michigan<\/a>, Ohio State<\/a>, Oregon<\/a>, Penn State, Tennessee<\/a> and Wisconsin.<\/p>\n Despite his high standing in recruiting circles, Harbour described the interest he received from the Badgers<\/a> as \u201coff and on\u201d.<\/p>\n He is one of three highly-touted players from Catholic Memorial. Running back Corey Smith, who also visited Penn State last weekend, is also a four-star recruit in the 2024 class and tackle Owen Strebig is a 2025 prospect who has piled up a dozen high-major offers since the end of the season.<\/p>\n Harbour\u2019s commitment marks the second time in three seasons that Penn State has scored a commitment from a top player from the state. Former Milwaukee King standout Jerry Cross will be a redshirt freshman tight end for the Nittany Lions this upcoming season.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s been my guy,\u201d Harbour said. \u201cI told him I was coming down there and he was stoked. He\u2019s been telling all this great stuff about Penn State, but I didn\u2019t believe it until I got down there. And I was like \u2018Oh snap, he was right.\u201d<\/p>\n An estimated crowd of 63,000 attended the spring game.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said the fan base is amazing, the coaching staff is outstanding, just being around everybody is amazing and once I got around everybody, I was like this is a family,\u201d Harbour said.<\/p>\n Harbour also said Penn State’s approach to his development separated it from other programs, offering him more time to develop as well as get his degree. He wants to study sports medicine and become a trainer.<\/p>\n “(Franklin) was like it\u2019s not a three-to-four year (plan), it\u2019s a four-to-five,” Harbour said. “I just liked that because I want to finish and get my degree. No other coaches talked to me about a four to five, they talked to me about a three to four, leave early, get drafted. That is what I liked about him.”<\/p>\n With his college choice behind him, Harbour can turn his attention to track season \u2013 he competes in the throws for the Crusaders \u2013 and preparing for his senior season of football.<\/p>\n To that end he has been doing the requisite strength training while getting position-specific work at Milwaukee Yard as well as with O-Line Mafia and former Badger Joe Panos, who played six seasons in the NFL.<\/p>\n The development will be key. Last season was the first-team all-state selection’s first ever at guard.<\/p>\n With his college choice out of the way, Harbour said he is ready to take the next step.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m committed but I\u2019m not there yet, so I\u2019ve got to be prepared when I\u2019m going there,” he said. “I\u2019ve got to work out, lift, do whatever coach asks me to do so I can be great.\u201d<\/p>\n More: <\/strong>Luke Fickell’s Wisconsin football<\/a> staff looks to grow in-state recruiting with these 8 players<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com\/deal<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Catholic Memorial football star Donovan Harbour commits to Penn State<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nFootball Harbour is a 4-star prospect who received almost two dozen D-I offers<\/h2>\n
Football Harbour likes Penn State’s long-term plans for his development<\/h2>\n