Fre'Zarian Harrison's long recruiting journey came to an end Wednesday with a happy ending.

Pittsburg's star linebacker -- and a regional leader in the tackles for loss and sacks departments -- confirmed to ETSN.fm he committed to Stephen F. Austin within a day of receiving an offer. He was previously committed to Kilgore College, a junior college.

The linebacker will graduate high school in May and, from there, will become immediately eligible to join the Lumberjacks squad.

"I just kept praying about it and believed God was gonna make the hard work pay," Harrison wrote to ETSN.fm in a statement.

The news marks the end of a feel-good academic year for the Pittsburg football team. It posted a 10-win season and reached the Class 4A Division I area round under first-year head coach Brad Baca.

Harrison was part of a 4-7 team in 2014.

Pittsburg's two losses came to Liberty-Eylau, a district opponent, and Argyle. Those two teams faced each other in a close regional championship game two weeks after Argyle knocked Pittsburg out of the postseason.

Argyle went on to reach the state championship game. It lost the title match in the final 11 seconds.

Pittsburg advanced eight other players to various levels of collegiate football, but Harrison will be the only Division I participant as a true freshman.

Harrison recorded 33 tackles for loss and nine sacks during his senior campaign. His combined numbers in those categories were the best among local Class 4A players through the 10-game regular season and were still the best at the time of Pittsburg's elimination in Week 12.

Stephen F. Austin has been a popular destination for East Texas players since it began its football program in 1923. Brownsboro athlete Tamrick Pace, Tyler Lee quarterback Zach Hall and Nacogdoches receiver Alex Gregory signed with the school in February.

Clint Conque will begin his third season as head coach of the Lumberjacks in September. He has a 12-12 overall record in Nacogdoches and guided the program to an FCS playoffs appearance in 2014.

The ‘Jacks struggled to a 0-5 start last year but seemed to turn a corner midway through the campaign. They won four of their final six games.

Four of seven losses came by eight points or less. One defeat was at the hands of TCU from the Big 12 Conference.

Harrison and his new team will open the 2016 season at Texas Tech and then host West Alabama before jumping into Southland Conference competition.

Pittsburg, meanwhile, was moved down from Class 4A Division I to Class 4A Division II during the UIL's realignment process in February due to a slightly smaller student enrollment. It will compete in District 7-4A Division II alongside Atlanta, Gilmer, Gladewater, Pleasant Grove and Spring Hill for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

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