Feature: Georgia 2027 QB JR Harris leading undefeated Carrollton Central squad

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Umbrah Brown has something special developing at Carrollton Central (Ga.). The Lions posted an 8-4 mark a year ago but have jumped out of the gate hot this season remaining perfect with one regular season game left to play under coach Brown’s direction. The offense has been sensational this fall averaging 41.1 points per game with freshman dual threat JR Harris leading the way.

The breakout season being had by Harris (5-10, 170) was a year in the making.

“When I was in eighth grade, instead of playing there my coach moved me up to JV so I could get the feel of the game early,” Harris said. “They wanted me to be ready in ninth grade for varsity. I worked my way up. I started playing varsity my ninth-grade year, but I was making that transition during my eighth-grade year. With Georgia rules, you can only play varsity your ninth through 12th grade years.”

On that varsity prep year in 2022, Harris shared, “The talent isn’t the same but there are varsity players that play JV.”

Because Harris can already do so much on the field, he was asked to describe his playing style.

“I’m kind of like a dual threat,” Harris stated. “My speed is one of my key factors that helps separates me from others; it helps me make plays. I have been working on my speed a lot. I’ve been working on making accurate throws on the run and in the pocket and staying poised.”

When needed, that speed shows up big for Central. The team has 2026 four-star tailback Jonaz Walton (102/1,018/14) to call on and has received 336 rush yards with five scores from their emerging 2027 prospect.

The offense was detailed.

“It is awesome,” Harris shared. “We have a great coaching staff and a great OC. He is doing a great job. The way he is using me, it is great. We are doing RPOs (run-pass option); we are running it and throwing it. It is up to me to make the choices within the offense. With the help of my four-star running back, it is up to me making the choice of throwing or running the ball. With what we can do, it makes the offense more complex. We can spread it out more.”

Talk on the field is part of the gamesmanship come Friday nights. Harris filled us in on what he is hearing from opposing defenses.

“They usually try to talk trash, but I don’t let it affect me,” Harris said. “They try to get in your head. There were linebackers in one of our games, they started barking. Two weeks ago against Cedartown, they were calling my number out – “Hey No. 3, we’re coming for you.” I don’t let it rattle me, but they do try to rattle me.”

Opposing 4A Georgia defenses are trying their best to shutdown Harris’ passing attack.

“I’m mostly seeing Cover 3 and Cover 1-man,” Harris stated. “I’m looking at the corners and if the safety is in man or if they are in Cover-1 man with a linebacker blitzing. The corners tell me where to go with the ball.”

The success spinning the pigskin comes with hours of weekly preparation.

“We break it down each week,” Harris shared. “In our team meeting, we go over the team and their basics. We talk about if they are physical or not physical. Then we go into groups in unit period. All offense goes together. In our unit period, we breakdown their basics, their strong points, weaknesses, and strong players.

“After that we watch film; we watch their coverage and we breakdown everyone. We even get their names, height, weight in our scouting report. After practice, we watch our practice film and go over what we did right and wrong. We focus a lot on how to read the upcoming defense.”

Nine games into his freshman year, Harris was asked about his improvements in the pocket.

“Probably being poised is my biggest improvement,” Harris said. “I struggled with being poised in middle school. Since I have moved up to varsity, my poise in the pocket has been better. I am taking hits and relying on my teammates to make plays.”

The 35-21 late-September win over Cedartown goes down as one of Harris’ best individual performances of the season.

“My best game, I’d say Cedartown because they are always really good,” Harris shared. “They always have really good linebackers and corners. They have a four-star (2025) Georgia commit (Tae Harris), he plays all over the field. He plays corner, safety, and linebacker. They scouted me really well. They had two spies on me the whole game and they kept blitzing. They switched their coverage up during the game; I hadn’t seen that before. They are really good.”

Word has gotten out on Harris’ abilities.

“I stay in contact with Vanderbilt, Arkansas State, and Georgia Tech,” Harris stated. “At Georgia Tech, I stay in contact with coach Kenyatta Watson (dir. scouting). My QB coach, Tony Ballard, he does most of my recruiting for me. He talks to them, and he tells me what they say. Vanderbilt, I talk to them every once in a while.”

The War Eagle got Harris on The Plains for a game this fall.

“It was good,” Harris said. “I had a recruiter with me the whole time; he treated me well. Their coaches were cool, I liked them. They came up to talk to me. Coach (Hugh) Freeze came up and introduced himself; he is a really cool guy. Auburn had a great atmosphere; there were a lot of people there. Auburn is a good school and has a good campus.”

A trip to Nashville has been pushed, but a couple of in-state game-days are in the works.

“I am supposed to go on a couple visits this fall,” Harris added. “I am supposed to go to Georgia and Georgia Tech.”

Harris’ enthusiasm to visit both Power Five programs was shared.

Georgia: “Being in that atmosphere, I’ve been there a couple of times, the atmosphere is different there. The campus is nice. Overall, Georgia is a good school.”

Georgia Tech: “I stay in touch with them, they are local. I love their academic program. Georgia Tech is a really good school. I have visited there before; I loved the visit. Georgia Tech is just a really good school.”

Putting their 9-0 record on the line, the Lions close out the 2023 regular season schedule on Nov. 3 with a road game against Heritage.

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