The Recruiting Guy

THE RECRUITING GUY: Dumas' Chris Harris prepping for arrival at Arkansas

Chris Harris is an athlete in the class of 2020. (Photo courtesy of Jona Lewis)
Chris Harris is an athlete in the class of 2020. (Photo courtesy of Jona Lewis)

Arkansas preferred walk-on Chris Harris is doing everything possible to be ready for when he reports to Fayetteville later this summer.

“I’ve been working out about 3-4 times a day,” Harris said. “I try and run a mile every day, do arms and legs. They tell me they're probably looking at me at slot. I’ve been catching and doing a lot of DB drills just in case.

“I push myself to be uncomfortable.”

Harris, 5-10, 189 pounds, of Dumas, chose the Razorbacks over offers from Air Force, Henderson State, Arkansas-Monticello and Northeastern State. He also held preferred walk-on offers from Memphis and Arkansas State.

He’s working with former Razorback and NFL tight end Chris Gragg and former Pittsburgh tight end Will Gragg, who began his college career at Arkansas. The Graggs' father, Kelvin, is the superintendent of the Dumas School District.

Harris primarily played quarterback for the Bobcats. He completed 133 of 208 passes for 1,807 yards and 19 touchdowns, and rushed 191 times for 1,539 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Harris was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps second team as a junior.

He only played in four games as a senior after Coach Max Pennington returned from a 100-day suspension after sending a parent a racist text. According to a report in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, he later claimed the word he meant to send was 'beggars.'

Harris and several other players left the team when Pennington returned.

He completed 29 of 54 passes for 380 yards and 5 touchdowns while rushing 69 times for 414 yards and 7 touchdowns in the four games.

“That’s the only position they’ve seen me play,” Harris said. “I can catch really well. I’m not going to drop any passes. Working out with Will Gragg over the last couple of months and training, too, I’m good at running routes now.

"I’ve gotten good at getting my feet under me. I learned more of the game by being with him.”

One of the best dual-sport athletes in the state, he also was a standout in basketball. Harris has impressive strength in the weight room with a 300-pound bench press, 475-pound squat and a 255-pound power clean.

Harris said he downplayed his desire to be a Razorback during the recruiting process, but there’s no doubt he wanted to be in Fayetteville.

“Deep down in my heart, I always wanted to play, whether it was basketball or football at Arkansas,” said Harris, who has a 3.6 grade point average. “I love the school. I had other options, but it was a no-brainer that my heart wanted to go to Arkansas.

"I get to play a sport I love for my home state.”

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