Harris is Bob Jones’ next big football star
AJ Harris in action against Muscle Shoals (PHOTO CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON- Bob Jones football fans can get used to hearing the name A.J. Harris.
Coaches and players already know all about the 6-foot, 170 pound freshman. So have college football coaches as he has already received a visit from defending national champion FloridaState and an offer from the Seminoles.
Harris’ quick ascend to the top of recruiting boards almost didn’t happen. He was not listed on the 2013 season roster provided to fans and media going into the season.
Slated for a year on the freshman team, Harris was called in for a meeting by Patriot head coach Kevin Rose before the start of last season.
“We noticed him as the top player on the freshman team and when Trent Lynch went down with an ACL injury in the preseason Champions Challenge we decided to pull him up and create some depth in the secondary,” Rose said. “He just took off from there. He played as many as 60% of the snaps and played at a high level especially for 6A football.”
“He’s a good cover guy. He played in the middle of the field, kind of like center field; a cover three type breaking on balls anticipating throws. He will become a better tackler as he gets older and stronger but as far as cover skills and knowledge of the game and having a knack for the ball he played at a high level as a freshman.”
Harris saw his first game action against James Clemens in week 2. He was given jersey #30 and early in the season was confused by fans and media with Montrell Cole who was listed as a defensive back #30.
In week 3 against Hazel Green, Harris made sure everyone knew who he was when he stepped in front of a Cole Guffey pass in the flat and raced 66 yards for a touchdown as Bob Jones won 34-7. He had two interceptions on the season.
On a defense that started eight seniors, Harris started 12 games at safety. As the season wore on, he came up big in pressure situations as Bob Jones won key games against Florence, Buckhorn and Decatur to claim a fifth straight region championship.
Harris
Harris, whose full name is Anthony Wayne Harris, Jr. doesn’t have an off-season because he plays three sports at Bob Jones. He says he would like to keep playing baseball through high school. He is the centerfielder on the Bob Jones freshman team.
His sister Shaniqua Harris played on the Bob Jones state champion basketball teams in 2008 and 2009. She recently graduated from Alabama.
Harris played receiver and quarterback at Discovery Middle and says he would like to switch over to offense his junior year.
“It was a surprise for me as a freshman to get offered by a national championship team,” Harris said. “I talked to Sal Sunseri (FloridaState assistant coach).”
Harris said football is his favorite sport and he has been a FloridaState fan since he was little.
Harris has not been to college football camps and will get his first chance to impress this summer. He will also spend the summer training with the Bob Jones football team and participating in 7-on-7 camps. Bob Jones will host a camp and go to the National 7-on-7 at Bierne, South Carolina.
“Hopefully, getting to work with him full time will help him develop faster,” Rose said.
