The loss of CB Jason Allen (Bengals) will open the door for a spirited clash to replace him at the nickel spot. CB Brice McCain made dramatic improvement in his third season, while injuries limited CB Sherrick McManis to nine games. Brandon Harris, who played sparingly his rookie season, will get an opportunity to justify why the Texans used a second-round pick on him last April.



(cbssports.com)

Every Thursday Night proCanes.com joins All Canes Radio to bring the latest news on not only current Hurricane football but also proCane news and exclusive interviews with current and former proCanes live from the All Canes Store in Coral Gables. Click here to listen to this week’s show and hear our exclusive interview with proCane Brandon Harris. Harris talks about making his decision turn pro a year early, his rookie season in the NFL, being on the Houston Texans with so many proCanes and much more!

CB Brandon Harris, the team's second-round pick, was expected to contribute immediately, but he appeared in just seven games, mostly on special teams. Harris still figures in the Texans' long-term plans, but he'll need to assert himself in training camp to stay in the picture.



(cbssports.com)

Texans CB Brandon Harris reportedly struggled to get on the field as a rookie due to a "lack of speed."

Harris had no role in Houston's secondary, and coaches felt he didn't run downfield fast enough to contribute on kick and punt coverage. Undersized with a 4.53 forty time, Harris probably won't be viewed as future starter by the Texans. He may get a chance to play behind Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson, and nickel back Brice McCain in 2012, replacing free agent Jason Allen.


(rotoworld.com)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Texans cornerback Brandon Harris, drafted in the second round (60th overall) out of Miami (Fla.), is chronicling his rookie season with periodic diary entries for HoustonTexans.com.

Now we’re in Week 14 of the season, and we’re in great position as a football team. It’s been exciting. It’s a very exciting ride, man. We’re number one in the division, have an opportunity to clinch the division title this weekend. It’s been exciting just being a part of this winning feeling.

Coming from three years in college where we had off and on years and ups and downs, this is really my first time in a while being a part of a team that’s really been dominant week in and week out and is pretty much one of the top teams in the league. As a defense, we’re in the top five of probably almost every major category that the NFL records. That’s exciting to me, just being a part of that atmosphere. I think it rubs off from one guy to the next.

Being a rookie, getting to be around a lot of guys who have been in big situations, who’ve played in Super Bowls and competed for playoff games and division titles, I think just being around guys like that is going to do a lot for me in my future, just seeing the type of mindset those guys have and really getting a feel of what it takes to win and compete at a top level in this league. That’s one of the things I’ve been picking up as I go along through this long season.

The season, it’s been long. It’s been rough in some ways. Coming out of college, starting as a freshman, playing three years and leaving early and getting drafted in the second round here in Houston, there were a lot of high expectations of myself. I put a lot of high expectations on myself, also. The season’s just had a different route for me right now this year. And nothing I’ve done wrong, it’s just we’re playing so well right now as a team, as a secondary, the coaches feel like it’s a great opportunity for me to just sit back, to learn from all the guys that’s in front of me, all the guys that are out there competing every weekend, just take mental notes and learn how to be a pro, learn little things like breaking down film and studying your opponent. They think it’s going to help me become a great player in the future.

It’s kind of been different for me, but I understand my situation. I understand what’s going on, and I’ve always been a team player. Whatever the team needs to do to get better and to help the team perform well, I’m willing to do that. I know a lot of fans have been out there, they’ve been requesting me on Twitter. A lot of people want to see me out there. I’m excited that people want to see my play. That’s exciting for me. That makes me come to practice every day and work even harder, because I know there’s people out there that want to see me on the field. They’re asking about me, like ‘When we gonna get a chance to see you?’ They’re excited, and I just want to let them know I’m excited, also. My time is going to come, and when it does, I’ll be sure to make it worthwhile.

Other than that, though, everything else is great. Christmas time is coming up. It’s going to be exciting. I’ll get a chance to spend some time with some of my family one way or the other. I’m not sure if I’ll get to go back home for Christmas or if I’ll have to bring my family out here, but I’ve been kind of brainstorming on gifts I want to buy certain people and what I’m expecting in return, or if I should be expecting a gift at all. I’m looking forward to getting to spend that time with my family.

I did Thanksgiving with some teammates. We had a Thursday morning practice and then Coach Kub let us out, and Jason Allen, he invited the DBs to a local homeless shelter. He knew one of the ladies who worked at the shelter and he thought it would be good if we all go over there and just spent some time, so we all went up there as a group.

We got an opportunity just to talk to some of the people, talk to some of the everyday people in Houston, get the feel of some of their struggles as we enjoyed Thanksgiving with them for about an hour or so. We passed about dinners and got a chance to converse with them and tell them a little bit about ourselves and they tell us a little bit about their situations and how much we meant to them, watching us on Sundays go out and compete to the best of our abilities.

That really did a lot for us. Here’s people that don’t have pretty much anything. A lot of them are homeless, they’re living on the streets, and you see people coming in with their children and their kids, whole families coming in there. They can’t afford to have a Thanksgiving meal, but with all the things going on in their lives, to still be able to keep in touch with us and see what we’re doing on the field, seeing how much it means to them, that was very emotional for us as a group and as just men, just seeing how important a game can be to some people that have so many other struggles, so many other things to worry about. So that was pretty cool. It’s always fun to give back and spend some time with people in the community who are less fortunate who are just looking for some help. I’m looking forward to probably doing some of the same things out here for Christmas. I’m pretty sure we’ll organize something, we’ll get together and we’ll be able to give back and make an impact on some lives.
Follow Harris on Twitter @HarrisNOFLYZONE



(houstontexans.com)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Texans cornerback Brandon Harris drafted in the second round (60th overall) out of Miami (Fla.), is chronicling his rookie season with periodic diary entries for HoustonTexans.com.

It’s been a while since I did a rookie diary, so I’ve got a lot to catch up on. We’re about three weeks behind; a lot has happened since then.

The team has been doing wonderful. We’ve taken over first place in the AFC South, so we’ve been riding that momentum, riding that wave, for the past three few weeks. It’s been pretty exciting around here. You can feel the energy in the building just building up. Even in practice and meetings, guys are coming in, everybody’s having a smile on their face, because when you’re winning everything is just that much fun. I’ve had a good time.

I’ve been having family out the last couple weeks. That’s always good. We’re getting to the point of the season where I’ve been here for a while, been in Houston for a while, well adjusted to the city, but you still find yourself missing home a lot, so you try to call home and talk to your parents, talk to your friends as much as possible. But it’s always even more exciting when they get a chance to fly out, we get a chance to spend personal time together and I can just talk with them and hang out with them. So for the past couple weeks, that’s been cool. That’s been keeping me motivated, keeping me sane and stuff like that.

Also, I had a good time on Halloween. Halloween was an exciting time. I found out I was on some show – I was on Shaun Cody’s show, I guess. They put it on NFL Network. Man, he was in here dressed up in a Halloween costume, scaring people early in the morning. I can’t lie, that was the last thing on my mind I was expecting, for somebody to jump out of the cracks and try to scare me at 5:30, 6 o’clock in the morning. Luckily, my natural instincts didn’t come out and I take a swing – that would’ve really been funny on camera. But it’s all in fun, though.

Like I said, the guys here have been having a lot of fun. We do a lot of bonding events, and I’ve been able to learn a lot from these guys, from the secondary, the way they’re playing here. I’ve been able to learn a lot in practice and in the games and help myself become a better player. I’m still playing hard, practicing hard every day, waiting patiently, man. Sometimes things don’t go as you expected to go when you first get in here, but you realize that you’ll benefit from it in the long run, being able to learn mentally before you physically actually get out there and perform. Because sometimes, a lot of guys get thrown in the fire early and they may not be ready and they kind of lose confidence a little bit after getting out there and struggling, so I have the ability to learn from a great group of guys and to just try to duplicate what they do when I do get my opportunities to get out there. But all in all, I’m still blessed to be in this position, still blessed to be in the NFL – 21 years old, accomplished a lifelong dream. It’s just an exciting feeling every time I get to step in this locker room and suit up for the Texans.

The couple times I did actually get in there and play some on defense, it was exciting. It was like being in college all over again. You’re nervous on the sideline when Coach tells you, ‘You’re in next series.’ You feel like a freshman all over again. But the moment I touched that field and the moment I actually got out there and started covering guys and started getting confident and blitzing and making plays, I just felt comfortable. You know you belong out there. You know, ‘This is what I do; I’m a football player,’ and you feel at home when you’re out there. So that was exciting. I’m happy I was able to adjust that quickly and not have a problem with it. It kind of left that taste in my mouth that I’m ready to get back out there, so it’s been testing my patience a little bit, just waiting for that next opportunity.

Other than that, though, everything else has been great here, man. I had a chance to do some exciting work in the community. I don’t know if I’ve talked about that since the last time I’ve been on. I took a trip to the zoo with some of my teammates, working with kids, working with some of the different YMCA groups here in Houston and have just been getting a chance to meet people all the time. I can’t emphasize enough how much support we get as a team from the fans here in Houston. I really can’t. No matter where you go, no matter after a win or a loss, everybody represents the Houston Texans real well in Houston. That’s something I take a lot of pride in, because a lot of other places can’t say that.

Click here to order Brandon Harris’ proCane Rookie Card.


(houstontexans.com)

Houston Texans free safety Danieal Manning had surgery Monday to repair a fractured fibula in his left leg.

He was injured while making a leaping interception in Sunday’s 41-7 victory at Tennessee. The Texans aren’t going to place Manning on injured reserve because they’re hoping he can play again this season.

Manning, who played his first five seasons with the Chicago Bears, got $9 million guaranteed to sign with the Texans. He played well during the first seven games. Manning has earned a lot of respect in the locker room. He’ll be replaced in the starting lineup by Troy Nolan, a three-year veteran and the top backup at both safety positions.

Rookies Shiloh Keo, a fifth-round pick, and Brandon Harris, a cornerback taken in the second round, will compete for the backup job. Harris was the backup at nickel corner behind Brice McCain. Last week, the Texans lost safety Dominique Barber for the season because of a foot injury.

Click here to order Brandon Harris’ proCane Rookie Card.


(sportingnews.com)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Texans cornerback Brandon Harris, drafted in the second round (60th overall) out of Miami (Fla.), is chronicling his rookie season with periodic diary entries for HoustonTexans.com

Last week was an exciting week but a sad week, also. I had a chance to finish off the preseason. We went on the road, two road games. Went to San Francisco, came back for a short week, played at Minnesota. That Minnesota game was exciting. I had a chance to take a lot of snaps, get a lot of experience and just play a lot. It was also exciting because I grew up as a child being a Vikings fan, rooting for guys like Adrian Peterson and Brett Favre. Even when Randy Moss and Cris Carter were there, that was always my favorite team. So being able to play in that stadium and that atmosphere, it was really exciting.

Then, after the game, the reality set in: There’s a 53-man roster, and not a lot of guys are going to be here. I had to witness a lot of my friends that I had built relationships with since I’d been here, a lot of rookie guys coming in trying to make the team, get released. That was the wakeup call for me that the NFL is a business. It’s not like college. Guys are not transferring on their own. They’re fighting for their jobs. I was talking to guys who have families, who have kids, some are married, and they’re dependant upon the income. When they get released, they’re back at square one. They have nothing. That was kind of the part that made me take it as a blessing and not take anything for granted. You have to come every day prepared to perform. I don’t want to lose my job.

After getting through that, it’s very exciting right now. Playing against Indianapolis, obviously, one of the big division rivals, I’ve been hearing so much about the atmosphere for this game. Guys are saying how much different it is from the preseason, just the fans and the atmosphere of the stadium and how it comes alive. I’m very excited to get out there on Sunday and witness that part of it, just to go through the gameday routine again for the first regular0season game. I have my family flying in – my mom, my dad, my brother are coming in tomorrow morning. That’s going to be huge for me. It’s going to be my first time getting them out here and getting to hang out with them since I left home after the lockout was lifted. So I’m excited to get together with them and spend some time with my family and have them come watch the game.

The anticipation around the team is huge. There seems to be something special going on here, and I’m happy to be a part of it. I told the coaches anything that I can do to help this football team, I’m willing to play my role. I’m willing to step in and do whatever I have to do, whether it’s taking three or four snaps a game, running down on special teams or whatever I have to do to get on the field and make an impact as a player. I know coming in as a rookie, you just find somewhere you fit in. Even in practice, making guys better by making sure you go hard every day. I’m making sure guys are ready to perform, and when my number is called, I’ll be ready. But the anticipation around the team is huge. We think we can do some special things, and we’ve been showing that through camp and the preseason.

The fans have been great through this whole experience. We had tremendous fan support in college at Miami, but here it’s awesome all the time. Even on practice days like today, you’re driving down the street and see people holding up Texans signs and Texans flags. I was at the red light the other day, and I saw this guy was just standing there with a bunch of autographed footballs, just standing there waiting on Texans players to drive by, pull over and sign his football. So there’s a huge amount of dedication from a fan standpoint. It’s taken me by surprise a little bit, and I’ve been excited to see that build up every week.


(houstontexans.com)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Texans cornerback Brandon Harris, drafted in the second round (60th overall) out of Miami (Fla.), will chronicle his rookie season with periodic diary entries for HoustonTexans.com.

This week has been interesting. This is our first week preparing like the regular season. We’re treating this game like a true game week in terms of schedule and time, and we’re out of a camp mode. It’s been interesting just to take on the daily life of an NFL player – waking up in the morning, going to meetings, getting practice done, doing a bunch of stuff but in a limited time.

I realized that it doesn’t take all day to prepare yourself to be ready to play. We have a seven-hour work schedule every day, and that’s enough time from 8-3 to get all your work in and get done and go home and relax. Coming from college, I’m used to grinding all day – waking up at 6 a.m. and not getting home ’til about 9 o’clock at night between classes and study hall. You don’t have to do any of that anymore. It’s kind of a shock to me, like, “Oh, that’s it; I’m done?” Go to practice, go to meetings, study, and I’m gone. There’s no middle work in between. That’s been fun.

Last week’s game against the Saints was a good experience. It was a good chance to go up against a great team, a team that’s a Super Bowl contender every year. It was exciting to me just to go out there in pregame and get a chance to talk to some of my fellow ‘Canes who play for the Saints, Jimmy Graham and Jonathan Vilma. We all just got together and just joked and laughed about different things that we can relate to, and it was fun to be able to do that for the first time. We didn’t have any Miami guys on the Jets’ roster.

Other than that, things have been going great. I’ve been having fun. We installed a lot of things for San Francisco, which should be pretty good in the game. I was able to do some great things on special teams in the game last week. Coach Kub (Gary Kubiak) and Coach Joe (Marciano), the special teams coach, they applauded me a lot on special teams and are going to give me more opportunities to go out and play that way. That’s all I want: An opportunity to play. Special teams is a huge part of the sport. I just want to be able to get on the field, and getting that opportunity is going to be exciting.

I’m excited about the first road trip. Get to travel with the team, get on the airplane with the guys, have that camaraderie, stuff like that. I’ve heard it’s a pretty fun experience. I heard the plane is nice. I already know everything’s A-plus with the organization. Every hotel we’ve stayed in has been top-quality, so I’m excited just to get a chance to travel with an NFL team. We had a pretty good traveling experience at Miami, but to know you’re at the highest level, I know they do things different. That’s what I’m excited to see. I’m excited to see just the simple things: The buses, the hotel, all of that.

I heard American Idol was here at Reliant Stadium this week. I was trying, I was begging and pleading, for three days for somebody to set me up with an audition. I couldn’t get it done. I don’t know what I had to do. I just wanted to get in the audition room and just show ‘em what I can do. I’m a decent karaoke guy; I have fun with it back with my family and friends in Miami. So I think I could pass. And I’ve been saying it for a while, I really want to meet J-Lo. But they couldn’t make it happen for me. I was screaming to anybody who would listen to me to get me in the room and just shake some hands and just introduce myself. That’s all I was asking for, but unfortunately it didn’t come true.


(houstontexans.com)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Texans cornerback Brandon Harris, drafted in the second round (60th overall) out of Miami (Fla.), will chronicle his rookie season with periodic diary entries for HoustonTexans.com.

First of all, there’s obviously a lot going on right now at Miami. It’s pretty much nothing I can control, nothing I’ve got a hang on. I just talk to my teammates out there now and tell them to keep their heads up and keep working and everything will work out for the best.

It was exciting to be able to play my first NFL game on Monday – just going through the whole process of going to the hotel with the team, coming to the stadium, seeing all the fans waving to you and applauding on the drive in. You’ve been in that practice atmosphere a little bit, but the stadium is a completely different atmosphere when you walk in on gameday. Everything is set up so professional, you realize, ‘Man, I’m in the league now. This is it.’

Playing against the Jets, it was my first time actually being out there and playing against guys that I’ve watched on TV for a long time. Just during warm-ups, watching Darrelle Revis, watching Antonio Cromartie – watching players on my team, also – I was like, ‘Man, for years I watched these guys play, and now I’m here. This is actually it. I finally made it to this point.’ Even though it’s the preseason, it was still an NFL game, and it felt good to finally get out there and finally play some snaps. I was able to make a couple of tackles and get my head in there a lot, and I felt good about it after the game.

It was my first time since I don’t how long that I’ve played a game when I didn’t have one of my parents there. It was a little different. It was OK, I was adjusting to it, but ever since I’ve been in little league, I played for my dad in high school, went to college in Miami and they were able to come to all my games. So I was kind of looking around for them when I first got on the field a little bit and then I realized, ‘OK, you gotta go play.’

I played a total of 35 snaps. My first couple of snaps, I was out there on the kickoff team. That was my first time being on the kickoff team since I was in high school, and that was exciting. I was able to make a couple tackles on the kickoff team, so those are the plays that really stuck out because I hadn’t done it in so long.

When we went back and watched the film, I graded out pretty good. Coach Vance Joseph applauded me on the performance, a lot of things he was proud of. That was actually the best I felt, watching film. Even though you’re still working and you still know you’ve got to continue to get better, hearing it from him and hearing the guys around you was good. It’s your first one out; you always want the approval of your teammates. That’s always extra motivation.

The short week this week is all a part of being a professional. I see the adjustments that guys make, being able to turn the switch on and off from last week’s game to this week. It’s a lot of extra studying in a short period of time, but Coach Kub does a great job of designating the proper meeting times and stuff like that and making sure we’re getting all the information. That’s been the funnest part right now is just going through the process with Coach (Wade) Phillips drawing up game plans. He’s real sharp with it, too, so I learn so much just sitting there and listening to him talk and why he’s calling this play and why he’s doing this.

I’m excited to play against New Orleans. I just want to earn more snaps; continue to at least be put in the position to showcase my talent and show what I can do. It’s all about being patient, being a rookie. You have to be patient. It was tough at first coming from the University of Miami where I started as a freshman, started all three years there and coming in here as a rookie and being drafted in the second round and just scratching and clawing. You’re starting from the bottom. You have to try to work your way up to a role where you can play. I accept that, so I just choose to go out there and work hard. I just want to keep proving over and over again that I can play in this league and that I can help this team.



(houstontexans.com)

Before Brandon Harris signed his four-year contract with the Texans, he autographed a separate piece of paper for his mother.

This paper had terms and conditions, too. Some Harris understood to be non-negotiable.

"My mom was a little nervous when I told her I was thinking about coming out (of college) early (for the NFL draft)," Harris said. "It sunk in finally, but she told me I had to promise her a few things."

The terms he agreed to are simple: Harris must complete his college education at the University of Miami and earn a degree. The conditions in which Harris must fulfill his contractual obligations, though, are more complex.

The second-round pick, who is pursuing a bachelor's degree in business, has to complete his coursework during the offseason following his rookie year in the NFL. And if he doesn't, Harris said he can expect to be in a ton of trouble.

"I don't even want to find out what happens if I don't," Harris said, laughing. "I'm not planning to."

Class in session
For now, class is still in session for the young cornerback.

"There's a lot of studying involved," Harris said. "Coach Wade (Phillips) has been putting a lot of different things in every night. There's so many different plays and different calls. Sometimes it can get overwhelming but you have to keep working and learn how to break everything down."
Because of the amount of information he has to process, Harris spends a good portion of his time after practice studying the playbook, film and defensive concepts.

He's not alone. Johnathan Joseph, Roc Carmichael and other younger cornerbacks work with each other sharing tips that further expedite the learning process.

"We communicate with each other all the time," Joseph said. "It's not like we are pulling one way or the other. This is a tight unit and everyone helps each other any way that they can."

The suggestions have worked. Harris is defending much better and breaking up passes on a consistent basis after a rocky first week of camp.
"Some days have been better than others," Harris said. "Some days you make a mistake and get frustrated because you want to play well. You just have to sit back and watch some of those veterans and then go back out there the next day and show that you belong here."

High football I.Q.
He's performed in practice like he belongs — garnering attention and the praise of cornerbacks coach Vance Joseph - and put himself in position to get playing time this season.

"He's showed that he has a high football I.Q. and good instincts on the field lately," Vance Joseph said. "He's above his time and plays like a veteran so that inside nickel spot is going to be his."

Vance Joseph and the Texans staff aren't the only people that see the potential in Harris. A former NFL player voiced his opinion not too long ago as well. During the NFL combine, Hall of Fame Cornerback Deion Sanders publicly stated that Harris was the best cornerback he had seen there.

Harris said the endorsement gave him a huge boost of confidence and serves as motivation for him to become a great player in the NFL.

"It was a huge compliment," he said. "It makes me want to go out and continue to work hard to live up to those standards."


(chron.com)

We’re almost through the first week of camp, and the transition has been good. I’ve had some good help from Coach (Vance) Joseph and some of the veteran guys in the defensive back room. But man, it’s a lot of information. It’s tough when you’re coming in from doing nothing in a year like this year. I was working out back home in Miami and doing different stuff, but it is so much different when you’re organized and when you get into team training camp and have to learn the playbook and things like that. It moves really, really fast, so that’s been the biggest adjustment every night with all the studying.

I was in the weight room lifting weights with Roc Carmichael in the morning yesterday, and I was like, ‘Man. It really just hit me that we’re in the league now. We’re in the NFL.’ He was like, ‘Yeah, man, it just hit me, too.’ When you get drafted it’s exciting, but until you actually get out here and put that uniform on, that’s when you feel it.

I’m roommates with Roc at the team hotel. It’s pretty cool over there. You get a chance to bond with the other rookies and just hang around everybody. We don’t really have a lot of time off, so usually it’s here, back to the hotel for a nap, come back and then go in for the night. I spend a lot of time in the playbook when I’m here, but I’ve also found it successful for me, when I’m away, to peek at it for a little bit every now and then but let it sink in. Don’t overcrowd yourself with information. Watch TV, call home, talk to your family, talk to you girlfriend and stuff like that. That’s been helping me stay level and stay humble and ready to play.

We’re definitely getting the ‘carry pads’ treatment from the veterans. Especially on a day like yesterday. Hundred-degree weather out there, those guys, they don’t want to carry their own equipment back inside. But it’s all in fun. We do that and then every night we have rookie entertainment where different guys have to get up there and perform and do that kind of stuff. I haven’t gone yet, though. I’ve been dodging and trying to hold out, but I know they’ll get me soon enough.

Coming to a team with so many guys from ‘The U,’ it’s special. It feels good. As a rookie coming into camp, you have guys you can lean on, guys you can talk to who just understand where you’re coming from, who’ve been there where you’ve been. Guys like Andre (Johnson) and Darryl (Sharpton) and Damione Lewis and all those guys. You walk around in the building and see those guys, you see a smiling face, a guy you know, you give them a handshake and it just makes you feel good.

I’ve known Andre since I was about seven or eight years old, just running around in Miami watching him play, hanging up under him at the parks and stuff like that. Even before I got here, we were back at home in Miami training. He was schooling me on what to expect from the city, what to expect from the team and the staff and how different guys were in the locker room. He’s been doing a pretty good job since I’ve been here, too, of just making sure I’m OK. Just the simple things like asking me, ‘How you feeling today?’, ‘How you feeling out there?’, ‘Everything alright?’ Coming from a guy like that who you’re close to, it’s like having a family member here.

My locker is right next to Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning’s. They’ve been giving me tips about playing in the NFL, the good and the bad and monitoring that with your family and stuff like that. They’re guys who have a lot of experience and they give me a lot of good information. I also get a lot of information from even younger guys, like Kareem Jackson who was a rookie last year, who knows what it’s like coming in the league as a rookie, coming from a big-time school, a big-time program and being expected to play and perform early. Some of his insights on that have been really helpful.

Right now in camp, I just want to grasp the information – get to the point where I can play comfortable and know what I’m doing, playing fast, and once the season comes, get on the field. Get on the field the best way possible. Nickel, dime packages; special teams is a big part of our game here. That first step is just getting on the field.

I’ve been excited about getting to Houston for a long time. I hear the fans are great here. I’m excited to go out there and play for you guys; excited to run out of the tunnel for the first time and look up and hear all the fans screaming and yelling. They always told me since I’ve been in high school, Texas football is some of the best football in the country. I’m excited to get to experience it.


(houstontexans.com)

Brandon Harris, 21, was the second pick in the second round of the Houston Texans. General manager Rick Smith traded to acquire an extra second-round pick to select Harris. Harris signed a four-year contract for $3.299 million, including $1.55 million guaranteed.

The Texans entered the offseason hoping to improve their secondary, especially at cornerback. They drafted Harris in the second round and Roc Carmichael in the third. This week, they signed free agent Johnathan Joseph, one of the top players available.


(chron.com)

When we talk to former Canes football players, it’s clear how much they care. That’s why Bryant McKinnie waited awhile to talk to Art Kehoe this spring, simply to offer mentoring to the offensive linemen. That’s why Bennie Blades sought out Ray-Ray Armstrong to challenge him “to be the next Jim Thorpe.”

That’s why 150 ex-Canes — at Al Golden’s urging — came to the spring game; why Ed Reed speaks often with Vaughn Telemaque; why Vince Wilfork makes himself available to Marcus Forston, and on and on.

But caring also means identifying problems that need to change. Ryan Hill, who cares deeply, is willing to do that.

After playing in the Sun Bowl (his final game at UM), Hill raised eyebrows by saying, “We have a lot of guys … that act like little boys.” The cornerback, who went undrafted, elaborated recently. He said he has been back to campus since leaving and that Golden still has work to do to get things right.

“When I made that comment,” he said, “what I meant is some guys are really immature.”

How many? More than a dozen, Hill said.

“In my early years at UM, there were guys who were freshmen who acted like adults — Jon Beason, Teraz McCray, Greg Olsen,” Hill said. “When I was a senior last year, some sophomores and juniors acted like freshmen. Guys would do silly stuff like pulling their pants down, wearing crazy stuff.

“Guys would come late to meetings. They would schedule appointments and not show up or listen to iPods in class. I was always told by academic advisors to talk to [teammates]. Some kids got worse after they got here. People were purposely doing stuff to mock Randy Shannon or do their own thing.

“Coach Shannon tried to make sure guys went to class and presented themselves well. But as soon as he turned his back, they would do what they wanted. There are a lot of guys who didn’t produce, and how they act off the field has a lot to do with it. That has to change.”
The low point was the Sun Bowl.

“I don’t want to name names, but there were a couple of receivers having a snowball fight on the sideline when we’re down 21-0,” Hill said. “ Brandon Harris and I got upset. We were already upset because we’re losing, and now we’ve got to go over and break up a fight. These guys have to grow up. I hope Coach Golden is instilling that. Without growing up, you will never be successful.”

Hill said some players who weren’t atop the depth chart stopped working hard — something that must change. “There were always guys pouting, because they’re not playing as much as they want,” Hill said. “That’s Pop Warner stuff. You can’t have that.”

That brought us to another topic: marijuana. Several players reportedly will be suspended for a game for using marijuana, though Golden has not confirmed that. Hill isn’t surprised.

“Coach Shannon put fear in guys not to do pot during the season. But I know there were a couple guys that beat the system,” Hill said. “Nobody got caught. Now coach Golden has a problem on his hands, and he has to figure out how to handle it. I’m sure there are guys still using, though there’s no way to know for sure. You have to have a zero tolerance rule, make an example out of somebody. It’s a problem across the country.”

He said UM tests randomly for drugs once a week — “I might have gotten tested once every three weeks” — and the NCAA tests once a year.
Hill doesn’t want Golden to be burdened with the same immaturity issues that hurt Shannon’s team. “Coach Golden is doing everything he’s supposed to,” Hill said. “But football is where he will be judged.”

Golden doesn’t want to discuss marijuana. But speaking in general, he said, “When there’s transition, there are kids that rebel.”

• Guard Brandon Washington said this spring that one problem last season that must change is that “you’ve got guys walking around talking about what they did in high school, what they did in Optimist ball. It’s like: ‘OK, you did that in high school. Do that now. We need you now.’ ”


(miamiherald.com)

Miami had the second highest total of draftees nationally with eight, second in the ACC only to North Carolina (9).

• While eight was among the best totals in the 2011 NFL draft, UM has had eight or more players drafted on five occasions since 2000 and 14 times in the program’s history. The eight draftees ranks ninth in UM history.

• Cornerback Brandon Harris will have a bevy of familiar faces in Houston where former Canes Andre Johnson, Eric Winston, Chris Myers, Rashad Butler, Damione Lewis and Darryl Sharpton are on the current roster.

• UM has had 26 first-round picks since 2000. The next highest total is 17 by Ohio State. UM has 75 total draft picks since 2000, which is third during that time span and barely trails Ohio State (78).

• Former Canes CB Ryan Hill, RB Graig Cooper and RB Damien Berry all appeared on mock drafts and seem likely to be signed if/when free agency is lifted from the NFL lockout.



(espn.com)

Todd McShay broke down a few possibilities where either proCanes Brandon Harris or Allen Bailey could be selected in the 1st Round.

McShay first said that the Baltimore Ravens with the 26th pick in the 1st round could pick Brandon Harris instead of a defensive end.

Another scenario has the New England Patriots selecting Allen Bailey with the 28th pick of the first round, but as always one never knows as the Patriots do like to trade their picks.

In McShay’s other scenario for Brandon Harris, he has the Pittsburgh Steelers picking him with the 31st pick of the first round. McShay says: “Harris is not an elite playmaker but he's more physical than his size suggests and has the athleticism to help upgrade the cornerback unit and push for the No. 2 job.”

Click here to order Devin Hester’s proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)

Player: Brandon Harris
School: Miami
Position: Cornerback
Listed height/weight: 5-foot-9 1/2, 191 pounds
Scouts Inc. rank: No. 5 at cornerback (scouting report)
Draft projection: Late first round/early second round

Why he’s on our list: Considered mentally tough and the son of a coach, he is described by the Pro Football Weekly draft preview as smart, passionate about football and someone who works at his craft.

Recommended link: The Miami Dolphins' official website writes on Harris' presence at the NFL Combine.

Key stat: Enters the draft after his junior season; played in all 39 games in his time at Miami.

Workout stat: Timed at 4.44 in the 40-yard dash.

Steve Muench of Scouts Inc.: “Harris has the blend of instincts, quickness and feet that teams covet at cornerback, but there are two reasons he didn't receive a first-round grade from us. The first is that he's a shade taller than 5-foot-9, which means he has just adequate size and it raises concerns about his ability to match up against bigger receivers. The second reason is he doesn't project as a playmaker. He picked off just four passes in three years at Miami and he has small hands (8.5 inches). Todd McShay has Harris going to the Ravens at No. 26 in his latest mock, but he notes that Colorado CB Jimmy Smith is the better overall prospect. I agree with that analysis. However, there are red flags when it comes to Smith while Harris has excellent intangibles. The buzz is picking up around Smith, as colleague Kevin Weidl pointed out earlier this week. It now looks like Smith will come off the board before Harris, which means Harris slides. He's an all-right value at 28, but I don't think he's the first option because there are likely to be better values at positions of greater need. New England would do better to press its luck and see if he's there with the first pick in the second round. If they do draft him, he can push 2009 second-round pick Darius Butler for playing time. That competition could be good for Butler, who hasn't played as well as desired."



(espn.com)

It's unusual, but not unheard of, for NFL teams to bring in their draftprospects all at once for visits like the St. Louis Rams do. They had defensive prospects in Tuesday and Wednesday, and offensive prospects in Wednesday and Thursday.

But when it comes to dinner, no one does it quite like the Rams.

Once again, Rams draft prospects dined in the suite of the late team owner, Georgia Frontiere, on the second floor of the Rams Park facility.

"Dinner went great," said Miami (Fla.) cornerback Brandon Harris. "I had a very enjoyable time with the (coaching) staff and I met a lot of great guys that came here also from other schools."

The meals were catered by Ruth's Chris Steak House.

"I'm a big steak eater," Harris said, laughing. "So they definitely set us right. They had the steak, spinach, and macaroni and cheese. It was real nice."

The food was good, and the setting was even better. The luxurious main room of Frontiere's suite features a fireplace and a long wooden bar.

"Yeah, that was very different," Harris said. "I actually heard a lot of people talking about it. They were like, ‘Man, who stays in here?' They had that long bar, and you're looking over the practice field. Oh man, it was nice."



(stltoday.com)

University of Miami cornerbacks Brandon Harris and DeMarcus Van Dyke worked out for the Oakland Raiders secondary coach Rod Woodson today.

Woodson also auditioned Ryan Hill and Jared Campbell at the Miami campus in Coral Gables, Fla. 

Harris and Van Dyke had dinner tonight with a Cleveland Browns secondary coach and are working out for the AFC North club Friday.'

Harris visited the St. Louis Rams on Wednesday and concluded his visit Thursday morning.

He has previously worked out for the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins.

Harris is regarded as a late first-round, early second-round draft target.

He struggled in the Hurricanes' bowl game against Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd, but otherwise had a strong season.

As a sophomore, he ranked second in the nation and led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 15 pass deflections and was named first-team all-conference. He was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist with 52 tackles, six tackles for losses and two interceptions.

As a freshman, Harris ran track as he competed in the 60 meters, 400 meters and 4x400-meter relay.

He finished with 132 career tackles, nine tackles for losses, four interceptions, five forced fumbles, two sacks and 28 pass deflections.

Van Dyke conducted a private workout for the Baltimore Ravens a few weeks ago.

And Van Dyke has visited the Philadelphia Eagles.

He previously worked out for the Broncos, Falcons and Dolphins.

Van Dyke ran the 40-yard dash between 4.25 and 4.28 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.

He also posted a 33 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 10-1 broad jump and a 6.97 in the three-cone drill.

He's regarded as a late-round draft target.

In 50 games, he started 21 games and recorded 80 tackles, three interceptions and 10 pass deflections.

He also ran track for the Hurricanes.

He started three games last season.

At the combine, he posted the third-fastest time in the past decade.

An angular 174 pounds, the 6-foot defensive back ran the fastest time since Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (4.24, 2008) and Oakland Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt (4.27, 2005).

Van Dyke's lack of ideal size and strength are a concern, but his speed is rare.

He bench pressed 225 pounds five times at the combine.



(nationalfootballpost.com)

Miami (Fla.) cornerback Brandon Harris and North Carolina safety/return man Da'Norris Searcy were among previously unreported defensive players to make pre-draft visits to the St. Louis Rams on Tuesday. The visits for defensive players will conclude Wednesday at Rams Park.

Harris, who can play the slot and some safety, projects as a late first-round or early second-round pick. Searcy, who plays strong safety and returned both punts and kickoffs for the Tar Heels, projects as a mid-round pick. 



(stltoday.com)

As part of the online coverage leading up to the NFL draft, The Sun will look at prospects who could be available for the Ravens with the 26th overall pick.

BRANDON HARRIS Cornerback, Miami
Height/weight: 5-9/191
Key statistics: Broke up 15 passes in 2009 and 10 in 2009
Pro Football Weekly ranking: 3rd among all defensive backs

Why Ravens should draft him: A mentally tough coach’s son, Harris is football smart and instinctive. He’s aggressive which shows up in his stats. Not only does he break up passes, Harris forced five fumbles the past two years.

What should concern Ravens: Harris has one glaring weakness – size. The Ravens are looking for a corner who is taller than 6 feet, and Harris measured a disappointing 5-9 at the NFL combine. It didn’t help when he struggled to match the size of Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd in the Sun Bowl.

What they’re saying: “I love the game of football. It’s not just something I do just to do. I was born into this game. I think my love for the game and passion separates me from a lot of people.” -- Harris

Interaction with Ravens: Met with the Ravens at the NFL combine in February

Bottom line: There is little doubt that Harris will be there when the Ravens pick at No. 26. He’s considered a safe pick and projects to be a dependable starter. But Harris lacks the size that the Ravens desperately want at cornerback. If the Ravens pass on him, the Steelers could jump on him five picks later.



(baltimoresun.com)

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette lists Miami CB Brandon Harris, Baylor NT Phil Taylor, and Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod as his top three choices for the Steelers at No. 31 overall.

Bouchette has been all over Harris for weeks now, but he's coming around to the idea of drafting Taylor as run-plugger Casey Hampton's successor. Bouchette also likes Florida G/C Mike Pouncey and Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward, but doesn't believe either will be available that late in the first round.



(rotoworld.com)

MIAMI – As Brandon Harris stares at the tiny, 600-square-feet home on 62nd Terrace in Liberty City, he doesn’t simply see the boarded-up windows or its general state of disrepair. He doesn’t even really see the “For sale” sign.

Instead, Harris sees his first childhood home. He remembers the days spent hustling home from elementary school to drop off his books before heading through the back alley to 62nd Street and the laundromat his grandfather Floyd McPhee owned.

He’d pass by the old men playing cards under the shade tree next to the laundromat and maybe head to the convenience store across the parking lot to get Now and Later candy. Then he and his grandfather would make the rounds through town, checking on the houses and dry cleaning stores his grandfather owned.

As Harris retraces that drive, he doesn’t see a section of South Florida reputed to be one of the most crime-ridden in the region, the home of the 1980 Liberty City riots. He sees Charles Hadley Park, a giant recreation complex where he played pee-wee football and where rapper Luther Campbell provided the uniforms and equipment.

He doesn’t see a place that corporate America has largely deserted. Aside from a McDonald’s that stands next to the I-95 offramp and a couple of KFCs, there aren’t even that many fast-food places in town. The restaurants are a smattering of family-owned businesses advertising soul food, fried fish and grits. Harris talks proudly about the MLK Restaurant, which he claims “serves the best breakfast in the state.

Where the cynic sees limited potential, Harris’ vision has no boundaries. Where other athletes, such as Chad Ochocinco(notes), have seen a place they can’t wait to escape, Harris sees a home he wants to improve. He ignores the fact that getting here has required some luck already, such as the night two young people were shot to death and five others were wounded at a birthday and high school graduation party he attended in June 2007.

Ultimately, either as a businessman (after he gets his MBA) or as a politician, Harris is intent on making this place, which is a cradle of NFL talent, better.

The first step to making that improvement will require a detour. Later this month, Harris is expected to be one of the top cornerbacks selected in the annual NFL draft. The University of Miami product is widely projected to be a late first-round pick, likely to go somewhere after LSU’s Patrick Peterson and Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara.

While Harris gives up nothing to either Peterson or Amukamara, he also doesn’t much care if he’s a first- or fourth-rounder.

“Just give me a chance and I’ll show what I can do and we’ll go from there,” Harris said with subdued confidence. He is the son of a high school coach, well-schooled in how to walk the line between bluster and humility.

To put it another way, Harris has ridden the bus.

Taking a different view
When Tim Harris Sr. took over as the head coach at Booker T. Washington High School in the Overtown section of Miami in 2003, he was returning home. Harris, Brandon’s dad, grew up in Overtown, which neighbors Liberty City and rivals powerhouse Northwestern where Harris previously served as an assistant. He had come back after getting a chance to see another way.

Instead of being sucked into the swirling vortex of crime that has turned Overtown and Liberty City from once-proud neighborhoods to just plain ‘hoods, Harris went off to play small-school football at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis.

“First time I saw snow, first time I rode on a plane, first time for a lot of things,” said Harris, who has returned to Booker T. after serving as a special assistant to former Miami coach Randy Shannon for three years. In the process, Harris’ world got bigger and larger – experiences that stuck with him and that have been passed on.

“You go out there and try to help these kids get out so they can go out into the world and then come back to make this place better,” said Harris, who coached Brandon in high school. “Maybe they get a chance to go to the league. Maybe they get a college education and come back and run a business or teach school, but they get some skills and some ideas.”

One of the first things Harris did after he took over at Booker T. was take his players on a field trip.
Around the neighborhood.

One evening after school, as most residents were returning home from work, Harris put his team on a school bus and drove around Overtown. Harris simply asked his players to look around at the neighborhood, take a good view of the people and places around town from a different perspective.

“Most of them were just so used to looking at their neighborhood by walking around. It was always the same … when we rode around, they could really see what was going on. They could see that a lot people were just hangin’ out, doing nothin’. They were flat-lining through life. After that, I had so many of my players come up to me and say, ‘Coach, I want to do something more with my life,’ ” Harris Sr. said.

To this day, all the Harrises are working on doing more. Tim Harris Jr. already has his degree from Miami, where he was an All-American in track. Brandon is a semester away from earning his business degree. Harris Sr. is still working on his degree, taking classes online after raising his family and getting into coaching.

However, the positive influences in Brandon’s life extend beyond family and elders. Friend Chevis Grant, who was a year ahead of Harris at Miami, has served as a source of inspiration by teaching at Booker T.

Subsequently, Harris has a bigger view of life than simply where he is going to play in the NFL and how much coin he’s going to make. Like so many young men who have made it from his neighborhood (Harris will be the fourth player in a five-block section in Liberty City to get to the NFL), getting here has been a matter of survival.

Aside from the 2007 shooting during the party at the Polish American Club of Miami (the incident remains unsolved even though there were four gunmen) following his junior year of high school, Harris went to UM only two years after former defensive lineman Bryan Pata was gunned down, execution-style, outside his apartment near the school. It’s another crime that remains unsolved.

“There’s crime everywhere,” Harris said, pragmatically. “You can’t run away from it. It’s always there. Even if you’re trying to do the right thing, something bad can happen.”

Harris knows that all too well. He was friends with Jasper Howard, a Miami native and cornerback at the University of Connecticut who was stabbed to death outside a party on the UConn campus.

“What do you think about when that happens? You give thanks that it wasn’t you and you understand how fast it can all be gone,” Harris said.

A matter of talent
There is a question among scouts and coaches about just how good Harris can be. He has the requisite speed (he ran a 4.43 40 at the NFL scouting combine in February) and he has a very strong build at 5-feet-11, 195 pounds. He played in primarily a bump-and-run, man cover system at Miami, making him pretty easy to translate to the next level.

“At worst, he’s going to be a solid professional,” said a scout with an AFC team. “I would say that his ceiling is sort of low. You’re not talking about a perennial Pro Bowl player, but he’s a guy who will be very effective for a long time and, the way even mediocre corners get paid in this game, a guy who will make a lot of money some day.

Of course, this is the time of year when even the greatest players can get picked apart by draft analysts, so Harris has taken his share of criticism. Draft analysts like Mike Mayock of the NFL Network have consistently criticized Harris for his lack of big-play ability (Harris had only four career interceptions before leaving after his junior season), his flaws in zone coverage and the belief that he has trouble covering taller receivers.

Or as Mayock put it recently, “After Peterson and Amukamara, there is a big drop-off [at the cornerback position].”

When asked about the criticism, Harris remains composed, but his eyes focus sharply as he tries to drive home the point.

“I gave up one touchdown all season and now everybody thinks I have a problem with tall receivers,” said Harris, admitting that the one score he gave up to Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd in the Sun Bowl was his mistake. The problem with that score is that it came in Miami’s bowl game. As the saying goes in football, you’re only as good as your last game.

“That’s fine if people want to say that stuff. I’ll show them what I can do,” Harris said. As for the lack of interceptions, Harris said the problem was that the cornerbacks rarely got a chance to look back at the quarterback at UM, limiting the chances to anticipate plays. Harris, who also has decidedly small hands, said he believes he dropped another 10 possible interceptions during his three seasons.

The obvious positives for Harris is that he’s a strong tackler who has little fear of coming up in run support or fighting with a receiver.

“He’s not going to fail for lack of toughness, put it that way,” the scout said.

Strong background
On a warm Sunday afternoon in March, the Harris home smells of a family dinner. Harris’ mother Chonita has oxtail, collard greens and potato salad cooking in the afternoon, creating a mouth-watering fragrance.

The entire Harris family is at the house, including Harris’ grandmother. The living room of the working-class home is lined with trophies from the Harris boys. In an area where broken homes are a norm – according to the 2000 census, only 9.1 percent of Liberty City households featured married couples with kids – the Harris family is obviously strong.

These are people as dedicated to one another as they are to their community.

“Where I come from has its problems, but it also has huge potential. You need people to come back to the community and give something so that the next group of kids can make it,” Harris said. “We’ve had a lot of guys make it from this area and we can have a lot more if we work at it.”
That’s a wonderful long-range vision, a perspective that is about more than simply one’s self. At the moment, however, Harris needs to take care of his own career.

“I know that. The NFL is maybe 10 or 12 years of your life if you’re lucky enough to play that long. I have more things I want to do with my life after that. But right now, I’m dedicated to football and everyone knows that,” Harris said. “What people are going to get with me is a guy who is totally dedicated to football, totally focused on being great, who is going to give it all and who isn’t going to get in trouble.”



(sports.yahoo.com)

26 Baltimore Ravens
Record: 12-4
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
With no worthy offensive tackle to fill a need and wide receivers available later who can address holes at that position, this pick comes down to a defensive end like Ohio State's Cameron Heyward or a cornerback like Harris. Heyward comes with some medical concerns after offseason Tommy John surgery on his elbow and the risk might be too great after last year's first-round end, Sergio Kindle, did not play in 2010 because of injury. Colorado CB Jimmy Smith is more talented than Harris but comes with a lot of character flags, and while Harris needs some work he has the speed and athleticism to contribute as a sub-package corner early on and eventually become a starter.



(espn.com)

BIRDLAND –  The Falcons’ scouting and coaching entourage traveled to Miami last Wednesday to check out a few of the Hurricanes.
They put cornerback Brandon Harris, defensive end Allen Bailey and cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke through individual workouts and then broke off into lengthy interview sessions.

Harris called The Atlanta Journal-Constitution from his limo while on the way to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Tuesday evening to give us an update.

Harris, a native of Miami, was highly impressed the Falcons.   Coming out of Miami’s Booker T. Washington High, he was selected to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Super Southern 100 team and was rated as the third best corner in the nation by ESPN. Check out his bio.

Here’s a Q & A with the cornerback, who could be the team’s selection in the first round of the NFL draft, which will be held April 28-30.

Q: How is the draft process going for you?
A: The process is going great. I just had a team visit with San Diego. I went to San Diego on Monday. I stayed in San Diego for two days to meet the coaches and the rest of the staff.

Q: What are you doing out in L.A.?
A: I flew up to L.A. so I could go by the NFL Network and meet the guys. I did a couple of interviews.

Q: Have you talked to the Falcons yet?
A: Yeah, they came down for my Pro Day and they also came down last week to do an individual workout for me and for a couple of players on my defense. They brought down the entire staff. It was a good experience.

It shows that they are very interested based on the number of people that they brought down. That was good. We put on a great workout and they seemed to enjoy it.

I spent 45 minutes to an hour afterwards just talking to them about me and they wanted to let me know about the things they are looking for in their players. I pretty much spent the whole day with them on March 30th.

Q: How do you feel about some folks projecting you to go in the first round now?
A:  I feel strongly about it. I’m definitely worthy of a first round pick.  I’m just an all-around complete package. I’m not just a football player. I’m somebody who is going to bring a lot to the team off the field as well.

I keep hearing that a lot of coaches are looking at more and more tape. I’m hoping that they see that I can get the job done. It’s just a tribute to my hard work and dedication to the game that they’ve got me moving up the charts. That’s just more motivation for me to go out there and keep working.

Q: What led to your decision to come out after your junior year?
A: I looked at my school work to see where I was academically and how close I was to graduation. I’m only a semester away from graduating.
My mom pointed out that the degree is important. She saw that I was so close and said it was okay to come out.
I promised that I’d come back to graduate. It’s been a life long dream to play in the National Football League.

Q: So you had to promise your Mom that you’d get your degree?
A:  Yes, I had to sign a contract with my mother. I actually have to come back and get it within a year after my rookie season. I only have a couple of classes. I will go back and finish.

Q: What’s your major?
A: I’m a Business major.

Q: What do you think you can add to a pro team?
A: I bring a lot of knowledge about the game. At Miami, I played corner and nickel back. Not a lot of guys can do both.

I also played some safety. I’m going to try to do whatever the team needs. I figure if they are drafting me, they are drafting three guys because I can play multiple positions.

Q: Are the Falcons evaluating you as a safety or corner?
A: They are looking at me as a corner. They told me some positive things.  They were very supportive.

Q: Who was your favorite team growing up?
A: I was one of those people who changed teams a lot. I never had a steady team.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog



(blogs.ajc.com)

One AFC scout describes Miami (FL) CB Brandon Harris as a low-risk, but potentially low-reward prospect.

"At worst, he’s going to be a solid professional," said the scout. "His ceiling is sort of low. You’re not talking about a perennial Pro Bowl player ... (but) the way even mediocre corners get paid in this game, a guy who will make a lot of money some day." No draft analysts seem to believe Harris has elite skill, but he could fit in as a nickel back at the next level.



(rotoworld.com)

University of Miami cornerback Brandon Harris worked out for the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos today, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

The NFL teams also worked out cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke.

Harris is regarded as a late first-round, early second-round draft target.

He struggled in the Hurricanes' bowl game against Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd, but otherwise had a strong season.

As a sophomore, he ranked second in the nation and led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 15 pass deflections and was named first-team all-conference. He was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist with 52 tackles, six tackles for losses and two interceptions.

As a freshman, Harris ran track as he competed in the 60 meters, 400 meters and 4x400-meter relay.

He finished with 132 career tackles, nine tackles for losses, four interceptions, five forced fumbles, two sacks and 28 pass deflections.



(nationalfootballpost.com)

Lots of the cornerback talk leading up to April's draft centers around LSU's Patrick Peterson, who some believe could have the best NFL career out of any player in the draft. Peterson played his high school ball in Miami and one of his counterparts, University of Miami's Brandon Harris, will be joining him in the first round.

Harris, like Peterson, declared for the draft following his junior year. PFW's third-ranked cornerback, Harris spoke to PFW about how his career in football began at quarterback, what teams always ask him about and how he would feel about leaving sunny Florida to play football in cold weather.

In PFW's 2011 Draft Preview book, draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki says Harris "possesses natural cover skills, a balanced skill set and a professional makeup that should enable him to become a solid, dependable starter."

PFW: What made you come out early?
Harris: It was a combination of where I stand academically as far as being close to my degree, I was one semester away, and feeling that I progressed so much over my college career. After sitting down and talking to my parents and talking about the opportunity, we all agreed. As a child growing up you always want to make it to the NFL. Being so close to achieving that, why wait another year? Why not just go out right now?

PFW: What was your pro-day experience like?
Harris: The experience was fun. It was a lot different than the (NFL Scouting) Combine because you can perform on your own field, the field you practiced on the last three years and get a chance to be in front of your friends and families. They can come out and support you. It was a lot of fun — a lot of motivation and a lot of emotions running high. I think I did well. I got a lot of great feedback from scouts at the pro day. They were very pleased about the way I worked out. A lot of them commented on how energetic I looked and how clean my drills were. That made me realize that my hard work has really started to pay off.

PFW: Who were some of your role models growing up?
Harris: Role models for me were guys that I was always around. I have an older brother who played football in front of me. We are four years apart and I watched him play high school, but he wasn't able to go on to the college level to play due to his size. I have another friend who played with me in high school and also played with me at Miami. His name is Chavez Grant, he is another role model for me that I look up to. He played the corner position and showed me the ropes at the position. That is a guy that I still lean on for support.

PFW: Which cornerbacks in the pros have you molded yourself after?
Harris: It's actually funny you asked that. Growing up, I played quarterback, starting at 6 years old up to my junior season in high school when I transformed into a defensive back. I didn't really start looking at defensive backs until I got to college. I look at the newer guys like Charles Woodson and Darrelle Revis. I'm very impressed with the way they play. Those are the guys I watch because I wasn't playing the position when I could watch guys like Deion Sanders.

PFW: What's one thing teams seemed concerned about and have asked you about often?
Harris: They want to know how comfortable I am in a backpedal. How can I cover receivers in the NFL from an off position playing man-to-man? In our scheme in Miami, we played a lot of press technique, right in guys' faces. In the NFL, you run press coverage, but not as often. A lot of it is backing up six yards and being able to backpedal and using your footwork. They want to know if I can do it. I didn't do it in college, not because I was weak at it, but because I was doing what my team wanted me to do.

PFW: What are your thoughts on two of the other top corners in this draft, LSU's Patrick Peterson and Nebraska's Prince Amukamara?
Harris: Those are two of the best you'll see. Patrick, I've watched for a while, we've been good friends for a while. He's from the South Florida area so we gained a relationship as two of the top cornerbacks in the country. We were real close to each other and were able to hang out a lot. Prince is another good guy and another bigger corner. They're big, physical guys, over six feet tall, 200-plus pounds. They're big guys, you don't get a lot of corners that big.

PFW: What do you want teams to know that will separate you from the other corners in this draft?
Harris: The main thing I stressed to all the teams is how versatile I am in the defensive secondary, how mentally strong I am and how football-smart I am. I want them to know that I know football, I know schemes and I know what's happening on the offensive side of the ball. I played nickel back in college and I also played outside corner — those are two positions I can contribute to right away. Scouts like the fact that I can do multiple things and that I actually know what's going on. My football IQ is very high and they were impressed by that.

PFW: You've played football in Miami throughout your career, how would you feel if you have to play for a cold-weather team?
Harris: I'm looking forward to it. I've always wanted to see what it's like to live outside Miami. I got a quick feel of that training for the Combine in Dallas. I loved it. It was new and different for me. Being away from home is something I want to embrace and it's something I'm looking forward to. I think it will be a lot of fun. It's something (where) you can come back home and share the experience with your family and friends.

PFW: Your teammate opposite you on the practice field, WR Leonard Hankerson, also will be drafted. How significant has it been to work with him in practice to get ready for the NFL?
Harris: For the past three years we've been going at each other's throats in practice every day. We've been pushing each other, making each other better and getting the best out of each other. I want him to come out as the top receiver and he wants me to come out as the best defensive back. We're just motivating each other and reminding each other of all the hard work we put in.

PFW: With everything going on with the lockout and the possibility of players boycotting the draft, what advice have you gotten as to where you should be on the night of the draft?
Harris: The only advice I've been seeking is from fellow Canes, guys who have been in that position, been there and done that. They said go with what you feel, go with your heart, don't worry about the press and all the media what's going on out there. They say just do what you've been doing; the draft will take care of itself wherever you decide to be at. Go to the place that's most comfortable for you where you can just relax and enjoy the moment.



(profootballweekly.com)

 

Miami defensive back Brandon Harris will be clumped in with Aaron Williams and Jimmy smith for the “next best” corners in the draft.  Brandon Harris is the smallest of the three and ran the slowest 40-yard dash time at 4.53.  That is interesting considering he also ran track at Miami, although it was the 400m.

On the field, he shows elite athleticism and loose hips making for a wide receiver difficult to shake him in man coverage.  He shows the ability to anticipate routes based on down and distance and body language, which allows for him to cut off routes and make plays on the ball.  Because of that ability, he was tied for second in the nation with 1.31 passes defensed per game in 2009 and had a total of 28 over the past 2 seasons.  Similar to Aaron Williams, I would like to see him convert some of break ups into interceptions as he only accounted for four over the course of his career.

For as good as Harris is in man coverage, he needs to work on his zone drops and ability to cover in space.  He appears to get flat footed while sitting in his zone and look a little uncomfortable passing off receivers as they leave his specified zone.  Like other true cover corners, Harris uses a duck and swipe tacking technique that may be exposed in the NFL in yards after catch or edge rushes.



(wnst.net)

Houston Texans: Round 2: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami

Harris drops out of the first round while the playoff teams go for offensive and defensive line help. The Texans scoop up this natural corner and hope he makes a quick vault into the starting line up soon. I could even see trying to trade up a few spots to grab him. Being a ‘Cane doesn’t hurt either.



(houston.cbslocal.com)

Brandon Harris, CB, Miami - Harris was by far the smoothest player in all the drills. He kept his body low and quick, exhibited excellent hip-turn and kept wasted movement to a minimum. You generally want a better time than 4.52 from a guy standing 5-feet-10 and weighing 190 pounds, but Harris put those concerns to rest with the way he looked on the field.



(sports.yahoo.com)

Miami CB Brandon Harris measured in at just 5-foot-9 at the Scouting Combine weigh-in Sunday.

Harris has been mentioned as a potential first-rounder, but 5'9" corners don't typically go on day one. He's also coming off the worst game of his career, a torching at the hands of Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd in the Sun Bowl. Harris is considered to have some of the quickest feet among draft-eligible corners, but his stock has been dropping since early January.

Harris said that it’d “mean a lot” to play for the Texans with fellow Hurricanes like Andre Johnson and Darryl Sharpton.

“I would love to play for any team, but when it comes to playing with University of Miami guys, it’s just a different kind of chemistry and a different kind of atmosphere,” Harris said. “Those guys, they mean so much to us and they’re like older brothers to us. We’ve been watching (some of) them since we were eight and nine years old.”



(rotoworld.com)

If the Browns want to draft a cornerback after the first round in this year's draft, they might want to listen to the case University of Miami cornerback Brandon Harris made for himself Sunday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

"I'm very versatile," Harris said. "I love the game of football. It's not just something I do just to do. I was born into this game. I think my love for the game and passion separates me from a lot of people. I'm able to do a lot of things on the football field. At Miami, they played me in the slot a lot and I also played outside. I was able to move around and make a lot of plays. Being able to blitz from the outside and cover guys man-to-man in the slot, I was able to do a lot things that they wanted me to do."

LSU's Patrick Peterson and Nebraska's Prince Amukamara are projected as top-10 picks by most draft gurus. NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said, "After Amukamara and Patrick Peterson, there is a drop off."

But the 5-foot-9, 193-pound Harris, who's projected as a first- or second-round pick by Pro Football Weekly, said there are more than two good cornerbacks in this year's draft class. Of course, Harris believes he's one of them.

"I've watched Prince, and I've watched Patrick Peterson for a while," Harris said. "They're two great cornerbacks. Make no mistake about it. They're great guys. … I just think we all just have to come out here and show what we can do at the combine and show everybody that this is not just a two-person DB class, but we all have skills and we all can play."

The Browns might be looking to draft a cornerback. They have Joe Haden and Sheldon Brown. But Eric Wright is not under contract for next season, and Browns General Manager Tom Heckert recently acknowledged how important it is to have three reliable corners.

Harris is not a candidate to be selected early in the first round, when the Browns have the sixth overall pick. But if he's available early in the second round and the Browns don't spend their first choice on a corner, they could consider taking him 37th overall.

Then again, Harris might not be available by then, either. He started every game for the Hurricanes during the past two seasons. He compiled 58 tackles, 15 pass breakups and two interceptions in 2009 and 44 tackles, 10 pass breakups and one interception in 2010.



(ohio.com)

CB Brandon Harris, Miami
5-foot-11, 195 pounds
First-second round*

A starter for each of his three years with the Hurricanes, Harris earned All-ACC honors the last two seasons -- first team in 2009 and second team in 2010. An impressive cover corner with good speed, hips, footwork and ball skills, Harris recorded a team-high 10 pass breakups for Miami in 2010 after ranking second nationally with 15 in 2009. Also a solid defender in run support, Harris tallied 162 tackles during his three seasons with the Hurricanes.



(pressboxonline.com)

Brandon Harris
Position: Cornerback
School: Miami
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 195 pounds

Achievements: Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist (2009, 2010), All-ACC second team (2010), All ACC first team (2009), Third team AP All-American (2009), All-ACC Academic (2008)

What he brings: Harris possesses a very good size-speed combination and broke up 25 passes over his sophomore and junior seasons. His success as a sophomore made quarterbacks less willing to throw his way in 2010, but if he were to join a stable of cornerbacks that already features proven players like Devin McCourty and Leigh Bodden, pro signal callers won’t have as much of a choice. He has plenty of experience to back up his physical measurements, as he played in every game of his college career, starting all but seven as a freshman.

Where the Patriots could get him: No. 17, 28 or 33

Notes: While it would be surprising to see the Patriots use an early pick on a cornerback for a third straight year, it wouldn’t necessarily be the wrong move. Darius Butler took a step back in his second professional season and Bodden is coming off a shoulder injury.

If the Patriots were to select Harris in the first round, he would be the second Miami defensive back they have selected in the first round since 2007 (Brandon Meriweather) and the third Miami defensive player they’ve taken in the first since 2004 (Vince Wilfork). The 2010 draft was an odd one in that no Hurricanes were selected until late in the third round, when the Saints grabbed tight end Jimmy Graham with the 95 overall pick.



(weei.com)

With the 2010 NFL season in the books, it's time to turn our eyes to the NFL draft, and the pre-draft evaluation process. Before the 2011 scouting combine begins on Feb. 24, we'll be taking a closer look at the 40 draft-eligible players who may be the biggest difference-makers when all is said and done.

We continue our series with Miami cornerback Brandon Harris. In 38 games with the Hurricanes, Harris picked up four interceptions, 130 tackles (91 solo), 26 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, and 15 kick returns for 337 yards. Harris' relatively low career interception total is an indicator of both sides of the learning curve -- while he dropped a number of potential picks (and got burned for many touchdowns) in 2008, Harris was good enough in coverage by his junior season of 2010 to force enemy quarterbacks to throw the other way.

Pros: Adjusts well to motion pre-snap. Trails receivers tightly on timing and crossing routes and has the short-area speed to recover on digs and comebacks. Closes exceptionally well on screens and swing passes. He'll lose one-on-one jumping battles because of his height, but he has a great sense of timing to leap as the receiver starts to descend. Excellent sense of play direction; you don't see him getting fooled out of a potential play by receiver moves or quarterback fakes. Seems to have an innate sense of when to be aggressive and jump a route, and when to hang back and tackle. Clearly responds to coaching and learns from his mistakes in coverage.

Decent form tackler in run support for his size (5-foot-11, 195 pounds), though bigger players will drag him and he'll have to wait for help at times. Doesn't shy away from lining up to set the edge. Quick enough to avoid getting beaten by jukes in space, and he doesn't hesitate to being a knock once he zeroes in.

Cons: Harris is a better man corner than he is in zone, especially zone where he's playing off. Less of problem when he's playing under with or without safety help, but he seems to get a bit lost with a bigger zone to defend. Faster receivers who can push off will gain advantage -- Harris will struggle to catch up at times. Passes defensed numbers are partially inflated because he has a habit of slapping the ball away even when he could go for the pick.

Conclusion: If Harris was two inches taller, we'd be talking about him as a top-15 draft pick. But as he stands (literally), he's still got enough talent to start his path in the NFL as an outstanding nickel corner and make the transition to starting cornerback in a system in which pure man-speed is more important than zone recognition and the ability to tackle. With continued focus on his technique, he should be able to meet good coaching all the way and make a real difference for his NFL team.



(sports.yahoo.com)

CORAL GABLES — Hurricanes cornerback Brandon Harris, who decided last month to forgo his senior season for early entry into the NFL, has been training at the Michael Johnson Performance Center in McKinney, Texas.

He's working with the retired Olympian sprinter as well as Lance Walker, a former strength and conditioning coach for the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma Sooners.

"It's just a good opportunity for me to grow up and mature and focus on training and get away from some distractions that there may be back in Miami," Harris said by phone Sunday.

Unlike his 'Canes teammates, who played in the Senior Bowl and other all-star games, Harris hasn't had a chance to make an impression since the team's Sun Bowl loss to Notre Dame. Still, his stock continues to rise. Nationalfootballpost.com recently projected him to be drafted by the Texans at No. 11 or Lions at No. 13.

"Since I got up here, that's one thing I stayed away from," Harris said of projections. "Because I know it's something I can't control. … My only way to help myself will be at the [NFL] combine."

Harris said he's both nervous and excited about the combine, which starts Feb. 23 in Indianapolis.

"You want to show people that you belong and you're deserving [of attention], especially with me leaving as a junior," Harris said. "There are always foing to be questions, always going to be doubts out there. Why did this guy leave? He's not ready to be in the NFL. I hear that kind of stuff. People tell me that to my face."



(sun-sentinel.com)

Did you see on Thursday that ESPN draftnik Todd McShay has the Lions taking Colorado offensive lineman Nate Solder? I have the feeling many Lions fans believe the brain trust in Allen Park should be thinking defense.

After digging up a few more mock drafts, we find a few other "experts" have Detroit going with a defender in the first round.

Wesley Bunting, the director of college scouting for the National Football Post, published his predictions for the April draft on Yahoo! Sports. He has the Lions passing on Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara and taking Miami (Fla.) DB Brandon Harris.

Adding talent to the secondary has to be objective No. 1 for the Lions’ front office. Harris is a fluid, balanced kid with good speed and impressive ball skills. He has the ability to develop into a very good starting NFL corner.

Bunting isn't alone in his thinking. CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco, who's mock was published Thursday, has the Lions taking Harris, too.
The corner position is a big problem in the Lions defense. They have to upgrade this offseason. Harris makes sense, although there are some other possibilities at the position.

OK, OK, we get it. The Lions need some help in the secondary. But what about the linebacking corps? Foxsports.com's Peter Schrager recently posted his post-Super Bowl mock and thinks Detroit will take UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers.

He can play either the defensive end or outside linebacker spot, is a highlight waiting to happen and has no ceiling. Julian Peterson likely won’t be around much longer and the Lions could use a young, versatile linebacker to add to the unit. Ayers on that Ford Field carpet? It could be the perfect match.



(freep.com)

WalterFootball.com, which released it's mock draft late last week, has the Seahawks taking Brandon Harris (pictured in AP photo), a cornerback from Miami:

"The Seahawks need some help with their atrocious pass defense, especially with Kelly Jennings heading for free agency this March. Brandon Harris is a talented corner who had a great regular season, but struggled in his team's winter exhibition game against Michael Floyd."

The thought of drafting another Hurricanes cornerback likely causes some apprehension among Seahawks fans unsatisfied with the production Kelly Jennings, Seattle's first round pick out of Miami in 2006. For the record, Harris is listed at 5-feet-10 1/2 inches (or 5-11, depending on the source) and 195 pounds.

Position rankings: No. 3 by NFLDraftScout; No. 5 by Kiper.



(mynorthwest.com)