The decision

All of this has played out against the backdrop of a recruiting process that the Harrisons have kept close to the vest. Harrison is the most highly regarded recruit in central Ohio in at least 19 years. According to the 247Sports.com composite recruiting database, which dates to 1999, Harrison is the third-highest-rated recruit to come from Ohio.

Only Ted Ginn Jr. (tied for 23rd) from Cleveland and Prescott Burgess (tied for 113th) from Warren rank higher than Harrison (No. 130) in 247sports’ all-time rankings.

Nationally, Harrison is the No. 4-ranked recruit in the class of 2019.

During the season, the family had a calendar for keeping track of when his three top teams were playing at home and which coach from where would be visiting. It was a lot to juggle. But it wasn’t as stressful as what the family said was a consistent flow of often false and occasionally creepy information being passed around.

A wall calendar with the dates of home games of final three schools, (Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State) for Zach Harrison hang on a kitchen on at his house on October 7, 2018.

“Probably the biggest thing that drives me crazy and probably drives Zach crazy is that people know before we know where we’re going to be or what we’re going to do,” Tracey said. “We’ve made the decision in our house and we might’ve mentioned it to a coach in passing – Hey, we’ll see you on the 12th. And then an hour later it’s published that five-star recruit Zach Harrison will be on campus on the 12th and he’s bringing his mom, his sister, his dad, his dog and his aunt. They’re driving a blue car and it’ll have this license plate. The details!”

Jimmie said he’s seen people report that they’ve seen him driving south on I-71. One rumor had the family relocating to Florida so Zach could commit to a school other than Ohio State and avoid angering the locals – although Tracey joked that she’s considered putting a “for sale” sign in the lawn just for kicks. Tracey said her son has reached out to reporters asking where they heard false information they had published.

He’s gotten to see some of the best games in the Big Ten during the last two seasons. Ohio State’s shocking, second-half comeback win against Penn State in 2017 is the highlight, but not because of the result.

“I brought four of my friends there,” he said. “It was the five of us in the stands, cheering and watching the game. After the game one of my friends jumped over the railing onto the field and then we got separated and he got lost. He kept using his badge like, ‘I’m a recruit, I’m a recruit,’ even though he wasn’t.”

Within his circle of friends, Zach said his college choice is an afterthought. His wardrobe, nationally, is more heavily scrutinized. When he was on hand to watch Michigan host Wisconsin, Harrison wore a white hooded sweatshirt emblazoned with the Wolverines logo. Then when Ohio State hosted Nebraska, Harrison was there and dressed in black like the team but without a Buckeyes logo on his person.

To some, that’s proof positive that he is headed to Michigan. To his mom, that’s just the wardrobe of a typical high school kid.

“The biggest thing I struggle with is the fact that he can’t go see Ohio State’s campus without a big deal, or he can’t have a Penn State shirt on at school without it being a big deal,” she said. “He can’t wear a Notre Dame hat at school without it being, ‘Oh my God.’ It’s one of those he can’t be a regular kid because everything is assumptive.”

Zach said, “I don’t really care. I just pick something and wear it and let outside people talk. They don’t really know anything.”

Olentangy Orange's Zach Harrison meets Penn State head coach James Franklin at midfield before Penn State game against Ohio State game at Beaver Stadium on September 29, 2018. Zach was the only recruit who got to meet Franklin on the field before the game.

Not apt to long interviews, Harrison and his family have grown close with coaches at all three of the schools still under consideration. Those relationships will officially end with two of them once he signs with the third.

“That’s the hardest part, yeah,” he said. “The hardest part is going to be saying no. Some of these coaches and the recruiting guys have gotten to know me, and I’ve kind of opened up to them. Having to shut that door is going to be tough.”

When he puts pen to paper Wednesday and makes his decision final, Zach Harrison said he has an idea of what will be going through his head.

“I’ll just be happy and proud of myself that I did it, I got through it, I’m going to live out my dream,” he said. “It’ll be almost surreal to go play college football now. No more politics. No more visits. I’ll just be playing football again.”