Mark Harrell Becomes Irish Commit # 7

Keith Arnold

May 20, 2011, 2:40 AM EDT

Just as Irish fans were starting to feel a little antsy, North Carolina offensive lineman Mark Harrell brought his recruitment to an end by calling up his recruiting coach Mike Elston and becoming the Irish’s seventh commitment of the 2012 recruiting class. Harrell joins Ohio-native Taylor Decker as the second offensive linemen in the class.
“I’m all done with recruiting,” Harrell told IrishSportsDaily.com. “It feels great to get it all done with. I’m solid on the Irish and just glad to get it done with, move on from there and enjoy my senior season.”
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound offensive tackle had offers from North Carolina, South Carolina, Auburn, Michigan and Stanford among a dozen others.
When the South Bend Tribune asked national recruiting guru Tom Lemming about Harrell, he had this early evaluation:
“A good, solid, down-the-line guy,” Lemming told the South Bend Tribune. “A solid prospect. Definitely a Notre Dame type of kid.”
Harrell certainly fits an archetype that head coach Brian Kelly looks for in offensive linemen, with Harrell easily filling the size requirements that come with playing on the offensive line under Kelly and Ed Warinner. It’s good to see every local program chasing Harrell as well, a sign that he’s one of the top prospects in his area — and more success for the Irish in the Carolinas.
While Harrell isn’t listed on any of Rivals’ initial recruiting lists, Harrell’s offers have come fast and furious, with the junior from Charlotte without any offers until he attended the National Junior Combine in January. Like more than a few Kelly targets, Harrell plays tight end for his high school  but will likely give up all skill-position aspirations when he arrives in South Bend.

NBC SPORTS LINK: HARRELL # 7