The Fear Of Jacory Harris
This article can be found on MIASPORTSGUY.COM, The Miami Sports Blog
The Hurricane’s Jacory Harris is fearless. That dynamic embedded in a football player makes him dangerous, even frightening. When you take that mentality intertwined with his laser accurate arm it can be a lethal shot into any defense.
Heading into week three of the young 2009 season with a monstrous game at Virginia Tech Harris had completed 41-of-59 passes (69%) for 656 yards with 5 touchdowns against 2 interceptions while leading an explosive Miami offense to 71 points and two wins against highly touted ACC foes Florida State and Georgia Tech.
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While he started the season with something to prove, he quickly garnered an absurd amount of media attention and praise after the Georgia Tach game.
“He has zero fear in the pocket”, claimed the Sporting News’ Spencer Hall days after the Georgia Tech game. “That, more than anything, will have pro scouts dropping panties for him.”
All the talk was premature considering Florida State and Georgia Tech had below average pass defenses. (FSU finished 77th and GT finished 45th nationally)
The once focused “I’ve got something to prove” attitude became infused with cockiness.
On the Dan Lebatard Show heading into the Virginia Tech game, he had some eye opening words saying he was going to sport a pink suit and a pimp cup at the Heisman trophy ceremony. The Heisman trophy? He’s talking about the award for the best player in college football after just two starts? The nerve.
Harris and the Canes were flying high, until a gloomy September 26 evening.
Virginia Tech blew them out of the sky with a 31-7 smack-down in Blacksburg. Harris had his worst game of the season completing just 9-of-25 passes, with an interception and a fumble.
Harris threw 14 picks along with 19 touchdowns over the next nine games.
Acting without fear revealed his vulnerabilities. He was pressing – forcing the ball into tiny windows deep down the field. During times where it would have been wise to throw the ball away, he would try to create something that wasn’t there, slinging the ball into the air with no regard.
He wanted to score on every throw it seemed.
The calm and poise he displayed early on was no longer a structure of his game. He was sacked an unfathomable 34 times in 2009, with the line partially at fault, but it was also Jacory holding onto the ball too long, always trying to make the big play himself.
He still had a solid first year as a full time starter, as a sophomore nonetheless. It was just a case of his phenomenal early play raising the bar to an unreachable level. The harder he pushed to reach it the further he sunk.
| 2008 | 118 | 194 | 1195 | 60.8 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 125.77 |
| 2009 | 242 | 406 | 3352 | 59.6 | 24 | 17 | 34 | 140.09 |
His outlook next season is filled with optimism. The 6′4″ rail thin leader has been able to fatten up a bit during the offseason. According to his father Rodney, ‘He’s gained weight and has a little belly on him. I hope former Miami quarterbacks reach out to work with him.’
All four of Miami’s explosive receivers are back, including standout Leonard Hankerson(45 REC, 801 YDS, 6 TD) and he should have one of the ACC’s top rushing attacks behind led by the big-play potential of Damien Berry in the backfield.
The line, very inexperienced on the outside with Jason Fox’s departure, is going to be the key to the Miami offense. If they can gel early on in another brutal non conference schedule (At Ohio State and Pitt), Harris and the Canes can acheive greatness.
A national title? Perhaps.There’s always the Heisman trophy, pink suit and pimp cup included.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
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