Downingtown East's Jay Harris chooses rap over Michigan State

Jay Harris, Downingtown East's star wide receiver, said he phoned a Michigan State assistant two weeks ago and broke the news.

He would not be a Spartan.

"I wish we could've got you," Harris said the coach told him.

It was not a rival program that drew Harris, but instead a different career path. The 5-foot-11, 162-pound senior said he wants to make it as a rapper.

John Lewandowski, Michigan State's associate athletic director/communications, said "it was a mutual decision."

He is ranked by ESPN as the state's 17th ranked senior and second-best wideout. Harris scored 13 touchdowns last season on 54 catches for 792 yards.

"I've been thinking about doing this for a couple of years now," said Harris, who perfoms under the name Jay DatBull.

His first single "DatBull 4 Life," was uploaded to YouTube in late April and has surpassed 50,000 views.

Harris said he made his decision to forego football about a week before the video debuted. He knew people would watch it, Harris said, but not that many in such a short time.

A mixtape is slated for a June 1 release and Harris said he plans to work with a professional producer this summer.

"I try to take advantage of every opportunity I get and for him to like my music and reach it to me, I really appreciated that," Harris said.

Harris said his commitment to Michigan State last year was "halfhearted." He said he first flirted with a career in music during his freshman year at Downingtown East.

"I've always had this in the back of my head, but never had the courage to tell my parents that this is what I want to do," Harris said.

Contact Matt Breen at mbreen@phillynews.com and @matt_breen on Twitter.