Harris throws a pass without hesitation and hits the receiver in the stride. The same play is ran shortly with the same result.
The freshman from Miami was looking like a veteran in his first full pads practice as an Army football player Tuesday. Harris’ confidence is growing with each snap.
“My coaches have done a good job, teaching the system,” Harris said. “The veterans have also helped me. When I ask them a question, they have answer every time. They’ve helped me a lot adjusting to the speed and getting comfortable in the system.”
One year ago, Harris was starting his senior year at St. Thomas Aquinas in what would be an undefeated Florida state championship season. Now, Harris is one of two freshmen quarterback along with Larry Robinson, who played at Army Prep last year, to take snap with the travel roster during Tuesday’s practice.
“We have a really good young group,” Army co-offensive coordinator Drew Thatcher said. “It’s throwing a lot at them fast and there’s the speed of the game and there’s the ball handling with guys that they have never meshed with. Those guys are really working their butts. The thing that really encourages you is not that they haven’t made mistakes but they don’t typically make the same mistake at the next practice.”
Harris decided to keep the ball over throwing it into solid coverage a few times during a live period of practice. He’s not forcing anything. Harris is enjoying every moment he gets.
“It’s (the new shotgun offense) more than I expected,” Harris said. “I’m liking it more. I thought I loved it. I’m loving it times 10. I really love the offense that we are running and I love the juice that everyone is bringing. We get better and better every day.”
