Rod Harris
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1966)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography
| name =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|11|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| team =
| number = 86, 80, 81, 88
| status = Retired
| import = yes
| position1 = Wide receiver
| height_ft =
| height_in =
| weight_lb =
| high_school = Dallas Carter (Dallas, Texas)
| college = Texas A&M
| NFLDraftedYear = 1989
| NFLDraftedRound = 4
| NFLDraftedPick = 104
| NFLDraftedTeam = Houston Oilers
| playing_years1 = 1989
| playing_team1 = Houston Oilers*
| playing_years2 = {{NFL Year|1989}}
| playing_team2 = New Orleans Saints
| playing_years3 = {{NFL Year|1990}}
| playing_team3 = Dallas Cowboys
| playing_years4 = {{NFL Year|1990}}–{{NFL Year|1991}}
| playing_team4 = Philadelphia Eagles
| playing_years5 = {{CFL Year|1993}}–{{CFL Year|1994}}
| playing_team5 = Sacramento Gold Miners
| playing_years6 = {{CFL Year|1995}}
| playing_team6 = Shreveport Pirates
| playing_years7 = {{CFL Year|1996}}–{{CFL Year|1997}}
| playing_team7 = Saskatchewan Roughriders
| playing_years8 = {{CFL Year|1998}}–{{CFL Year|1999}}
| playing_team8 = BC Lions
| career_highlights =
| CFLAllStar = {{CFL Year|1993}}, {{CFL Year|1994}}
| CFLWestAllStar = {{CFL Year|1993}}, {{CFL Year|1994}}
| NFL = rod-harris
| career_footnotes =
}}
Roderick World Harris (born November 14, 1966) is an American former professional football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles. He also was a member of the Sacramento Gold Miners, Shreveport Pirates, Saskatchewan Roughriders and BC Lions in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Texas A&M University.
Early life
Harris attended David W. Carter High School. He lettered in football, track, swimming and golf.
He accepted a football scholarship from Texas A&M University.{{cite web| url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rod-harris-1.html | title=Rod Harris college stats | publisher=Sports Reference | access-date=February 15, 2023}} As a sophomore in 1986, he became a starter at wide receiver, registering 21 receptions for 326 yards and 2 touchdowns.
As a junior in 1987, he returned punts for touchdowns in consecutive games, becoming the second player in school history, to have two punt returns for touchdowns in a season.{{cite web| url=https://12thman.com/news/2016/10/29/football--nmsu.aspx | title=Kirk's Big Night Lifts Aggies Past New Mexico State | publisher=12thman.com | date=October 29, 2016 | access-date=February 15, 2023}}
As a senior in 1988, he posted 37 receptions (led the team), 592 receiving yards (led the team) and one receiving touchdown (tied for the team lead).
He finished his college career with school records for punt returns (116), punt return yards (971), kickoff returns (59) and kickoff return yards (1,209).
Professional career
=Houston Oilers=
Harris was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 4th round (104th overall) of the 1989 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=Rod Harris |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HarrRo21.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001075759/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HarrRo21.htm |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |access-date=April 25, 2022 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com }}{{cite web| url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerh/harr12550.html | title=Rod Harris career stats | publisher=Pro Football Archives | access-date=February 15, 2023}} He was released before the start of the season on September 4.{{cite web| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/09/05/nfl-transactions/0b530f72-d775-40f7-bda0-a4b3457c1276/ | title=NFL Transactions | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=September 5, 1989 | access-date=February 15, 2023}}
=New Orleans Saints=
On September 6, 1989, he was signed to the New Orleans Saints' developmental squad.{{cite web| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139942661/ | title=NFL Transactions | newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=September 7, 1989 | access-date=February 15, 2023}} He was promoted to the active roster the week before the sixth game of the season.
He appeared in 11 games, while returning 27 punts for 196 yards and 19 kickoffs for 378 yards. He tied the franchise single-game record for punt returns in a game, with six against the Detroit Lions.
=Dallas Cowboys=
On February 28, 1990, the Dallas Cowboys signed Harris as a Plan B free agent.{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/01/sports/deals.html | title=Deals | newspaper=The New York Times | date=March 1, 1990 | access-date=February 15, 2023}} He reunited with special teams coordinator Joe Avezzano, who was his college offensive coordinator.
He appeared in 8 games, making 12 punt returns for 63 yards. He pulled a groin muscle in the eighth game against the Philadelphia Eagles.{{cite web| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/148497515/ | title=Eagles' ex-Cowboy won't blast old team | newspaper=Asbury Park Press | date=December 22, 1990 | access-date=February 15, 2023}} He was released in November.
=Philadelphia Eagles=
On November 30, 1990, he was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Eagles. He had 16 punt returns for 151 yards and one kickoff return for 44 yards.
In 1991, he appeared in 16 games, while making 2 receptions for 28 yards, 53 punt returns for 416 yards and 28 kickoff returns for 473 yards.
=Sacramento Gold Miners=
In 1993, he formed a potent combination with quarterback David Archer, posting 90 receptions for 1,379 yards, 7 receiving touchdowns and one punt return for 24 yards.
In 1994, he had 86 receptions for 1,280 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns, 89 punt returns for 869 yards, one touchdown return and one kickoff return for 31 yards.
=Shreveport Pirates=
=Saskatchewan Roughriders=
=BC Lions=
Personal life
His son De'Vante Harris played cornerback for the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL.{{cite web| url=https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/drawing-inspiration-from-ghosts-undrafted-cornerback-devante-harris-finds-a-home-on-the-saints-roster/article_3136749b-af03-5be4-9140-b1a005d7c225.html | title=Drawing inspiration from 'ghosts,' undrafted cornerback De'Vante Harris finds a home on the Saints roster | newspaper=The Times-Picayune | date=September 3, 2016| access-date=February 15, 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Houston Oilers 1989 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Rod}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Canadian football wide receivers
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Players of American football from Dallas
Category:Players of Canadian football from Dallas
Category:Sacramento Gold Miners players
Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players