Macho Harris
{{Short description|American football player (born 1986)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Macho Harris
| image = Martin and Harris Go Back to Work - Harris crop.jpg
| caption = Harris with Virginia Tech in 2007
| number = 35, 20
| position = Safety / Cornerback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|2|16}}
| birth_place = Highland Springs, Virginia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 200
| high_school = Highland Springs
| college = Virginia Tech
| draftyear = 2009
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 157
| pastteams =
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2009}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2010}})
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2011}})*
- Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2012}}–{{CFL Year|2015}})
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2016}})
| highlights =
- First-team All-American (2008)
- 2× First-team All-ACC (2007, 2008)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 44
| statlabel2 = Pass deflections
| statvalue2 = 2
| pfr = HarrVi99
| cfl-archive = https://web.archive.org/web/20150927184116/http://www.cfl.ca/roster/show/id/5021
}}
Victor "Macho" Harris, Jr. (born February 16, 1986) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft. Harris was also a member of the Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL and the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Early life
Victor "Macho" Harris earned All-District, All-Region, All-Metro, All-State, Parade All-American, and U.S Army All-American Honors while playing Running Back, Kick Returner, Punt Returner, and Safety at Highland Springs High School in Highland Springs, Virginia. In his Junior year, Harris rushed for 2,346 yards and 27 touchdowns and finished his high school career as the central regions career leader in rushing yards at that time.{{cite web|last1=Hamilton|first1=Jeff|title=Macho man|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/bombers/macho-man-385246551.html|website=Blue Bomber Report|publisher=Winnipeg Free Press|access-date=12 January 2017|date=7 January 2016}} Harris was rated the #1 High School football player coming out of Virginia in 2005.
College career
Harris started as the Virginia Tech Hokies' number one cornerback, playing the boundary position. During his junior year, he was a first-team all-ACC selection. He had five career touchdowns with Virginia Tech: a 72-yard interception return against Cincinnati in 2006, a 100-yard kickoff return against Clemson, an interception return against East Carolina University in 2007 as well as interception returns against Boston College and Duke in 2008. Harris had a total of 15 career interceptions during his career at Virginia Tech. He previously had announced his intentions to leave early and enter the 2008 NFL draft, but subsequently changed his mind and returned for his senior season.{{cite web|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2008/01/techs-harris-reverses-course-will-stay-senior-season|title=Tech's Harris reverses course, will stay for senior season|last=Tucker|first=Kyle|date=2008-01-14|access-date=2008-01-14|publisher=Pilotonline.com}}{{cite web|url=http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?id=24107&draftyear=2009&action=login&appRedirect=http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?id=24107&draftyear=2009|title=Victor Harris|website=ESPN.com}}
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
At the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine, Harris recorded 3.98 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle, and 6.68 seconds in the 3 cone drill. His time in the 20-yard shuttle was the second best among cornerbacks, and his time in the 3 cone drill tied for second.{{cite news|url=http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/sports/sports_blog/article/sports_blog_how_local_players_fared_at_the_nfl_combine/13761/|title=SPORTS BLOG: How local players fared at the NFL combine}}
=Philadelphia Eagles=
==2009 season==
Harris was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2009 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2009 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2009/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He opened the 2009 NFL regular season as the starting free safety, beating out Quintin Demps for the job. He was eventually replaced in the starting lineup by Sean Jones. However, the two split the majority of the playing time, and Harris eventually took back the starting position for final two games of the season: against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 and in the NFC Wild Card Round playoff game.{{citation|url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/eagles_files/html/harris_1.html|title=Eagles Media Guide|access-date=2010-06-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529224928/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/eagles_files/html/harris_1.html|archive-date=2010-05-29|url-status=dead}}
==2010 season==
Because Sean Jones was not re-signed in the offseason, Harris was projected to compete for the starting free safety job with Marlin Jackson, Quintin Demps, and rookie Nate Allen. For the team's preseason mini-camps, however, he took snaps from the cornerback position, the position he played in college. Due to the performance of rookie cornerback Trevard Lindley in the first three preseason games, Harris was switched back to free safety.{{cite news |author=Bowen, Les |title=Eagles' Jamaal Jackson could go into opener cold |url=http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/eagles/20100830_Eagles__Jamaal_Jackson_could_go_into_opener_cold.html |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=August 30, 2010 |access-date=2010-08-30}} Harris was waived on September 4.
=Washington Redskins=
Harris was signed by the Washington Redskins on November 23, 2010.{{cite news |author=Smith, Michael David |title=Redskins sign Macho Harris |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/11/23/redskins-sign-macho-harris/ |work=profootballtalk.com |date=November 23, 2010 |access-date=2010-11-23}} After playing in three games in 2010, he was waived on July 30, 2011.
=Pittsburgh Steelers=
On August 17, 2011, Harris signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He waived for final cuts on September 2, 2011.
=Saskatchewan Roughriders=
Harris signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on April 19, 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/article/riders-release-veteran-romero-sign-four|title=Riders release veteran Romero, sign four|publisher=|access-date=2017-09-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422004600/http://www.cfl.ca/article/riders-release-veteran-romero-sign-four|archive-date=2012-04-22|url-status=dead}} He was released during final cuts on June 24, 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.riderville.com/article/roughrider-roster-moves-20120624020717 |title=Roughrider Roster Moves {{!}} Saskatchewan Roughriders |website=www.riderville.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627132941/http://www.riderville.com/article/roughrider-roster-moves-20120624020717 |archive-date=2012-06-27}} Nevertheless, Harris returned to the Riders roster for the 2012 season, recording 7 tackles in 2 games. Harris saw more playing time in his second season in the CFL, collecting 23 tackles and his first career interception. Macho Harris started 16 of 18 regular-season games at defensive back for the Roughriders in 2014, posting a career best 61 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery. On March 23, 2015, the Riders announced they had signed Harris to a contract extension.{{Cite web|url = https://leaderpost.com/sports/Harris+signs+contract+extension/10909461/story.html|title = Harris signs contract extension|date = |website = The Regina Leader-Post|publisher = |last = |first = }}
In Week 14 of the 2015 CFL Season, Harris had arguably the greatest game of his CFL career, recording 3 interceptions (including a 50-yard pick six) while also recording 3 tackles in a Roughrider win over the Alouettes. Harris's 3 interceptions tied a Roughrider record for the most interceptions in a game.
=Winnipeg Blue Bombers=
Harris played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL in 2016.{{cite web | url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-harrivic002 | title=Macho Harris | publisher=statscrew.com | accessdate=May 20, 2024}}
Personal
Macho is the son of Victor Harris and the late Maritza Harris. He lives in Regina, Saskatchewan with his wife Kylie Harris and they recently had a baby girl named Kamila Harris.Mark Schlabach, "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/08/AR2005090801820.html Home Is Where Harris's Heart Is: Hokies Freshman Stays Close to His Family After Tragedy]," The Washington Post (September 9, 2005): E06. His father gave him the nickname "Macho" at the age of 2.{{cite news|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2009/02/harvin-dashes|title=Harvin dashes . . .}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20141123230759/http://www.riderville.com/roster/show/id/5021 Saskatchewan Roughriders bio]
- [http://www.hokiesports.com/football/players/2007/harris.html Virginia Tech Hokies football bio]
- [https://archive.today/20130201221253/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/wb/146956 Macho Harris going pro]
- {{Twitter}}
{{Eagles2009DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Macho}}
Category:People from Highland Springs, Virginia
Category:Players of American football from Virginia
Category:American football safeties
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:Canadian football defensive backs
Category:Virginia Tech Hokies football players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Washington Redskins players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players
Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players
Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen
Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen