Mae Jemison coach Rico White has one word to describe longtime Auburn commit Hezekiah Harris.

“Baller.”

The 4-star EDGE rusher committed to Hugh Freeze and the Tigers more than a year ago and hasn’t wavered on that choice since. He is one of two Top 10 in-state seniors committed to Auburn after the Tigers received a commitment from Wadley’s Jaquez Wilkes on Monday.

Harris is rated as the No. 7 senior recruit in Alabama, according to the 247 composite rankings. Wilkes is No. 6. He is No. 8 on AL.com’s A-List of top senior recruits in the state of Alabama.

“You are talking about a baller,” White said at Huntsville High School Media Day on Monday. “He’s a great player, a great kid, a leader. I always challenge him to play like a 4 or 5 star, carry yourself like it, practice like it, and he does it. He will be a successful kid.”

A year ago, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Harris finished the season with 20 tackles for loss and 14 sacks for Mae Jemison. He has even bigger goals for his senior season, and they start Aug. 22 at Athens.

“I need to start off with at least two or three sacks in that first game,” he said.

White said Harris, who followed him from Anniston High to Mae Jemison following the 2022 season, is more than just a pass rusher.

“People look at his size and think he is just an edge rusher,” White said. “Hezekiah can play the run, the pass, whatever he needs to play, and I think his frame can hold a lot more weight, so I’m sure they will put some weight on him.”

Harris said he liked the atmosphere and the coaching staff at Auburn.

On defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, he said: “I like his coaching style. He’s a real fired up coach. I like that.”

On head coach Hugh Freeze: “He is more on the chill side, but he’s still a really great coach.”

 White has watched his star continue to grow since the sixth grade.

“He’s a student of the game,” he said. “He stays awake while everyone else is asleep. He is always studying the game. He dominates practice the same way he does in a game. He’s just that guy.”

White says Harris’ potential is unlimited once he gets into the SEC.

“He has self-motivation, but I can only imagine when he gets to college and is around kids with the same mindset and drive,” he said. “He can dominate on defense. When things are not going right at our place, he gets mad. He pushes everyone. He is going to be special.”