Even on an unseasonably hot day, Granite Hills High senior running back Aaron Harris breezed by teammates during football practice.
When another player fumbled and an Eagles defender scooped up the loose ball, Harris embarked on a 60-yard pursuit, dropping the unsuspecting ball carrier 10 yards short of the end zone.
Harris' athleticism and speed are not surprising. The three-sport letterman once grabbed 27 rebounds in a game for the Granite Hills basketball team. In track, Harris has run 100 meters in 10.8 seconds and 200 meters in 23 seconds. He has gone 23 feet in the long jump.
The 6-foot, 191-pound Harris never seems to unravel. Two weeks ago, he ran for 303 yards and six touchdowns on 14 carries in Granite Hills' 42-21 conquest of Orange Glen.
“The first time I saw him, he looked like a man, even though he was only a freshman,” Granite Hills coach Randy DeWitt said. “Now – four years later – he's coming into fruition, proving that he's the player we thought he could be. He has great body control and uses his off arm to keep his balance.”
While the coach believed Harris had a big-time future, the athlete wasn't so sure.
As a 5-foot-7, 145-pound defensive end, Harris acknowledged being intimidated as a freshman. He was promoted to the varsity as a sophomore but saw limited playing time.
“When I got to high school, I knew everything would be faster than it was when I was in Pop Warner, so I was a little scared,” Harris said. “I didn't start getting all my size until my junior year.”
Harris is averaging 8.3 yards on 82 carries, compiling 681 yards for Granite Hills this season. He said the Eagles' three losses to open the season helped serve as motivation against Orange Glen.
“I was mad because it seemed like too many guys were goofing around in practice that week,” Harris said. “One day I just went off on everybody. I hate losing more than I want to win. I live by that quote.”
Harris has amassed 802 all-purpose yards for Granite Hills (1-3), which was off last week and will host Grossmont at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
“Aaron helps this team insanely,” Eagles senior defensive end Kenny Krajnak said. “He is an amazing running back. He also plays defensive end for us. I love being a teammate of his.”
Harris has broken the century mark three times this season, including a 176-yard effort against Westview.
“I'd say my greatest trait is I'm aggressive,” Harris said. “I want to hit people, which is why in the long run I might be better suited on the defense side.”
Harris, who said he used to struggle in the classroom, has raised his grade-point average to 3.0. That's the number that pleases DeWitt most.
Vicente Stafford, a senior running back and defensive back for Granite Hills, is also a Harris teammate in basketball.
“Whether it's in sports, in the classroom or off campus, the thing about Aaron is he's outgoing,” Stafford said. “He is a winner in every sense of the word.”
