Running wild
It didn’t take long for football star Simeon Harris to get comfortable with his new surroundings at Benicia High School. Meanwhile, opposing quarterbacks aren’t going anywhere the defensive back.
Opponents constantly had game plans that avoided going Harris’ way like cars on the Bay Bridge around 5 p.m. on a Monday. After transferring from Jesse Bethel during his junior year, Harris fit like a perfect glove at Benicia, helping guide the Panthers to the North Coast Section Division II championship game against Windsor, which it would lose 38-14.
Harris shined on defense, but was also a first-team all-Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division selection. He led the team with 12 total touchdowns and 66 receiving yards a game. He had 602 receiving yards in just nine games. He had 40 tackles and two interceptions and was named to the all-Bay Area News Group football team.
Harris is also a Times-Herald Male Athlete of the Year candidate.
“Simeon was a playmaker that let everyone know he was a playmaker,” Benicia head coach Craig Holden said. “He came in ready to work and wanted to play every play of every game. He was a fun kid to coach because he understands football and was special with the ball in his hands.”
While Harris said he improved a lot on offense during his senior year, it’s his defense he’s especially proud of. Harris, who graduated from Benicia in May, is already at the University of Colorado, ready to play defensive back in the Pac-12 Conference.
Harris says it was often difficult in high school to have fun playing when opposing quarterbacks didn’t throw to receivers he was covering.
“First off, I hate that with passion. I hate it,” Harris said. “I take pride in knowing that I am shutting my man down, but I still hate it. I want action. But at the time same I have to stay ready and I can’t get bored. I have to stay mentally focused because when a quarterback does throw it my way? I better be ready because I want to make a big play.”
The Benicia graduate said he would often talk trash, although in a jokingly way, to attempt to have quarterbacks and other teams throw to his side of the field.
“It was more just having fun then talking trash, but yeah I would do it,” Harris said, with a laugh. “I would be telling coaches, ‘Hey, when are you going to show me some love? When are you going to throw the ball my way?”‘
Harris transferred from Jesse Bethel at the end of his junior year after the Vallejo City Unified School District fell behind in COVID-19 protocols for athletes. Rather than play just one game that year, Harris switched schools.
Harris had a separated shoulder during the first few games of the playoffs but ended up playing in the game against Windsor.
“I think about that game a lot,” Harris said. “I just knew our team was talented and was going to get to the section championship no matter what because we had so much potential. But I wanted to play in that game. I didn’t start practicing for that week’s game until Tuesday. My parents knew how much I wanted to play in the game and after a long talk they said I could play. I’m just glad I didn’t re-injure my shoulder. It seemed like every time I was running with the ball one of my arms was just dangling. But I did my best to push through the pain.”
He returned to the lineup after being held out the previous three weeks and contributed with a team-high four catches for 30 yards. He also had a 55-yard run.
Now Harris will concentrate on excelling at the college level. He began workouts with Colorado last month.
“I like that our team here is always moving at a fast pace,” Harris said. “I’m getting to know all the veterans and coaches and I like that they’re throwing me right into the fire. I feel that so far I’m holding my own and doing my best to make good plays for the team. The campus is beautiful and I love walking into the stadium right now, seeing all the mountains. I can’t wait until it’s not empty and there are more people in it.”
Like his game, Harris desires a crowd.
"right" - Google News
July 10, 2022 at 07:49AM
https://ift.tt/1BHcfeK
Times-Herald Athlete of the Year candidate: Simeon Harris makes right connection with Benicia - Vallejo Times-Herald
"right" - Google News
https://ift.tt/bH2IOoh
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Times-Herald Athlete of the Year candidate: Simeon Harris makes right connection with Benicia - Vallejo Times-Herald"
Post a Comment