2010 Heisman Hopefuls: Jacory Harris, QB, Miami
There's plenty to like about playing college football for the University of Miami. Few schools have such a long history of success including national championships, numerous bowl game appearances, and an impressive number of players that moved on to the NFL.
Five different coaches have won national championships with the most recent being under Larry Coker in 2001, and the first under Howard Schellenberger in 1983. Thirty three times the team has played in a bowl game, winning 18 of them. In the last decade they have only missed going to the post season once.
Some of the greatest streaks in college football have involved the Hurricanes. For almost a decade the Hurricanes went undefeated at home, going 58 games without a loss (from October 12, 1985, to September 24, 1994). From 1990-1993 the team won 29 games in a row (13th longest streak in NCAA history); in 2000 to 2003 they won 34 in a row (6th longest).
No one would be as familiar with the success of a school as much as a local football player. Schools often feel that they should at least be able to recruit the quality players in their immediate locality if not the state. They especially want to do so when they happen to have a top recruit right in their back yard like quarterback Jacory Harris.
High School
Born and raised in Miami, the 6’4” Jacory Harris had the stature every coach wants his starting quarterback to have. As a member of the football team at Miami Northwestern High School he used that stature, his talent, and athletic ability to do what every player dreams of doing—never losing.
He took over the starting role as a junior in 2006. That year he threw 425 passes, completing 275 of them for 3542 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading his team to the school’s third state championship and an undefeated season.
Winning a state title was a hard act follow up. For his senior season he found a way though. Once again he took his team to an undefeated season and a state title; and he took a step further by winning a national title as well. Statistically he would do well completing 67% of his passes (222 of 333 attempts) for 3445 yards and 49 touchdowns.
Mistakes were simply something that were not a big part of Harris’s game. He never lost as a starter, going 30-0; he would only end up throwing six interceptions a season as well. When you do that well as a high school player it comes as no surprise that colleges want you to play for them.
College
As a freshman, Harris had to compete against another local product in Robert Marve (a fellow Mr. Florida award winner). Marve ended up getting the majority of the starts, but both players received playing time. As a freshman he ended up completing 61% of his passes for 1195 yards and 12 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
Harrris had a better statistical season than Marve in 2008 which may or may not have led to Marve deciding to transfer. Either way, that left the starting job to Harris once Marve did leave for Purdue.
Harris had an incredible year in 2009, wining nine games and losing three. He opened the season with a 386 yard performance. He would go on to have three other 300+ yard games that season (against Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Duke).
So sure is Harris of his ability to win the Heisman that during a July 2009 interview he made references to accepting the trophy in a pink suit with a ‘pimp cup’ in hand.
If he is going to do so he will need to find a more consistent game. During the 2009 season he had great statistical games, i.e. the four 300+ yard games, some good ones, and some not so good like his 9 for 25 day against Virginia Tech.
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