RECRUITING: Academics attract Gorman’s Perry to Vanderbilt

Bishop Gorman senior lineman Jackson Perry always had academics in mind when considering his college future.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 285-pound guard/defensive tackle made that abundantly clear on Saturday when he orally committed to Vanderbilt.

“The decision-making process was always academics first,” Perry said. “I thought of all the things I could do once I got my degree. I wanted people to say, ‘Wow, you graduated from Vanderbilt.’ I wanted that to be the focal point for the start of my career after football.”

Perry, a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, will get to play against some of the nation’s premier talent in the Southeastern Conference, while getting a top-notch education in Nashville, Tenn.

“I want to play in a conference with the best of the best,” said Perry, who will play defensive tackle for the Commodores. “I think I’ll get that from the SEC.”

Perry, who has a 3.9 grade-point average, chose the Commodores over offers from Colorado State, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Nebraska, UCLA, Utah State and Yale.

“He was one of the few kids that played both ways at times for us,” Gorman interim coach Kenny Sanchez said. “He’d have limited reps on one side of the ball, but because of his vast knowledge, he would only need a day, or a day and a half, to get everything down pat.

“He’s one of the most intelligent kids we’ve ever had. His brain function for X’s and O’s was outstanding. His work ethic is just phenomenal, and you don’t have to worry about him. He’ll never be a problem.”

Perry’s commitment is nonbinding, and the first day he can sign a letter of intent is Feb. 4. Vanderbilt’s coaches cannot comment until that time.

Perry joins teammates Alize Jones (UCLA) and Nicco Fertitta (Notre Dame) as oral commits from Gorman’s class of 2015.