Harris will live college dream on Millsaps College gridiron

Recent Dresden High School graduate Daniel Harris has his Saturdays full this fall.
The former Lion wide receiver/defensive back recently signed to continue his gridiron career at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss.
“I’ve always wanted to play a college sport,” said Harris, who also starred on the baseball diamond and basketball court at Dresden. “I really had no preference as to which sport I would play. It was just whichever one offered the best opportunity.
“To tell the truth, I wasn’t going to play college football, but then Millsaps started to show me some interest. I like their tradition and I love what I’ve seen of their football program.”
Harris, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 187 pounds, was recruited by the Majors as a wide receiver. The school does not give athletic scholarships, so Harris will get much financial aid due to his academic successes (No. 10 in his class).
“Daniel, much like Dale Hutcherson (who signed at Rhodes College earlier this summer), is a hard worker,” Lion skipper Scott Hewett said. “He’s been a dedicated athlete, out in the heat this summer running and lifting weights every chance he could get and it has paid off.
“I’m proud of him for wanting to keep going on with his football career.”
Harris told that the coaching staff at Millsaps expects him to be in the mix for playing time immediately.
“They told me to come in and be ready to make an impact,” said Harris, who was All-District in football, baseball and basketball during both his junior and senior campaigns. “I feel like it’s a great opportunity. Not everybody gets to play at the next level. I’m very blessed to have this chance and I thank God for it.”
Harris was also part of Dresden’s turnaround in fortunes on the gridiron. The Lions were a combined 1-19 during his freshmen and sophomore campaigns — a mark that could have prompted many players to turn in the towel.
However, Harris stuck with it and the Lions improved to 7-4 in his junior campaign (2009) and 9-3 in the fall of 2010.
“The first two years really taught me how to deal with losing,” Harris said while reflecting on that time. “You’re not just going to win by showing up on game night. You have to put in the effort in the offseason. I think that’s where we turned the corner and I’ll take that attitude to college.”
Millsaps College, which was 7-3 last season, plays in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Thus, Harris and his Majors’ teammates will face Hutcherson, a fellow Dresden Class of 2011 member and Rhodes College in conference action. Former Lion Clay Adams also plays for RC.
“That’s going to be fun,” Harris said of the chance to take on his high school quarterback and Adams. “It’s good that a handful of Dresden boys are playing college football and representing the school at difference places on the map.”
Harris had 29 catches for a total of 293 receiving yards and two touchdowns last season.
Defensively, he was also one of Dresden’s leaders with 82 stops.

WCP 7.26.11

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