Hazelwood Central Jr.targets MU, Notre Dame

Hazelwood Central junior Kyle Harris has seen the recruiting game up close, when his older brother, Ryan, was being recruited. So he knows the deal.

“Coaches are kind of hesitant to give scholarships to kickers,” he said. “[That’s why [I’m really hoping to get something before the season.”

The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder has been hearing from a handful of programs – Notre Dame, Missouri, Indiana, Kansas State and Wisconsin, but is focusing on two schools.

“I’m leaning toward two schools, Notre Dame and Missouri. I’ve been up there [to Missouri] twice and I’ve been to Notre Dame three times.

A lifelong Notre Dame fan, he’s hoping for an Irish offer. But he also is intrigued by the idea of playing for Mizzou.

“I talked to a running back who is going to Missouri [De’vion Moore] and he said he feels real comfortable there,” Harris said. “I was supposed to go there for Junior Day, but I didn’t make it. But I heard coach Yost was asking about me.”

He also ran into Yost at a kicking camp in Vegas, and the two chatted.

Last year, Harris connected on 5 of 8 field goals and 37 of 41 extra points, and averaged 62 yards per kickoff. He has a career long of 47 yards and a 3.8 Grade Point Average.

Harris has been combing through the rosters of the respective schools he’s considering, evaluating their depth charts at kicker. So, obviously, he likes that fact he’d conceivably have a chance for early playing time at Mizzou.

“They signed a juco kicker [Jake Harry] this year,” he said. “That would shape up really well.”

With Harris hoping to get something done as soon as possible, it’s possible he could end up committing to whoever offers him first. But as he acknowledged, with kickers sometimes placed on the recruiting backburner, he may have to be patient.