Gwinnett Daily Post

Staff Photo: Ben Beitzel Peachtree Ridge's Ahmaad Harris signed a national letter of intent to play football next season at UCLA.

SUWANEE -- When Ahmaad Harris woke up Tuesday morning, he wasn't sure where he was going to college.

The Peachtree Ridge senior had West Georgia on his list among other schools but didn't feel good about making a decision. Then, the phone rang. It was UCLA.

"They called and asked if I wanted to be a Bruin," Harris said. "I said, 'Of course.'"

Harris had visited UCLA and new head coach Jim Mora earlier in January, but didn't get an offer. Mora, the former Atlanta Falcons head coach, returned the visit later in the month, but still withheld an offer.

But for Peachtree Ridge head coach Mark Fleetwood the offer was just a matter of time.

"I am not surprised, I am really not," said Fleetwood, who noted that UCLA was not concerned about Harris' 5-foot-8 build. "The man is a really good player."

For his photo at Peachtree Ridge's National Signing Day ceremony in a packed school auditorium, Harris had to be asked to removed the sticker from his new UCLA hat. But it's a hat he wore proudly.

"I wanted to go there when I visited," Harris said. "They wanted me because of my skills that they saw."

An all-around threat for Peacthree Ridge, from offense to defense to special teams, Harris caught 41 passes for 494 yards and two touchdowns last season while playing defense and special teams.

Los Angeles is a long way from Suwanee, but Harris said he loved every second of his trip. He knows it hardly rains and never gets too hot. But the chance to play in the Pac 12 excited him most.

"My family will come with me," Harris said. "They'll support me whatever I do."