LSU freshman QB Brandon Harris elicits comparisons to Jameis Winston

Brandon Harris finds himself in a tight quarterback battle with sophomore Anthony Jennings for the right to succeed Zach Mettenberger with the LSU Tigers and if quarterback guru George Whitifield had any say in the matter, he’d be starting in the Tiger’s season opener vs. Wisconsin.

Harris was the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback prospect according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings and the No. 75 player overall, but Whitfield tells Shea Dixon of 247Sports that the 6-3, signal-caller reminds him of Florida State Seminoles national champion quarterback, Jameis Winston.

"“I thought one of the biggest gets in the country last year was Brandon Harris,” Whitfield said. …. “There isn’t a quarterback in this class with his arm talent. … “He reminds me of (Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston). Jameis was only 6-foot-2 and 190-pounds when he was at Elite 11 at that same age.”"

Whitfield has worked with some of the top quarterbacks in recent years with Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Johny Manziel and Aaron Murray among the players to be tutored by Whitfield, so he recognizes talent when he sees it.

Harris was compared to former top recruit Ryan Perriloux coming out of Parkway high school in Bossier City, La. with many talent evaluators in the state saying he was the best quarterback to come out of the talent-rich state since Perriloux nearly a decade ago.

This is certainly a nice endorsement, but it means little in terms of winning the quarterback job that likely won’t be decided until deep into fall camp, and it doesn’t mean he’ll have the type of immediate success that Winston experienced, but it is a nice feather in the cap and encouraging for LSU fans.

Harris may have a slight lead on Jennings after a strong spring game earlier this month when he threw for 122 yards on 8-18 passing and three touchdowns with 61 yards on the ground compared to Jennings who threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns and completed 9-17 passes.