White RBs 2008

white lightning

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It makes me sick how he has gotten screwed over ever since he got there. He said coming out of high school that he wanted to go somewhere that would allow him to stay at the running back spot and let him be the starter. Obviously like so many other kids, he has been lied to. Great game today. Maybe there is hope for next year. Just play the kid!
 

Van_Slyke_CF

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I thought Kyle Bell showed some good quickness and made nice cuts getting through the holes during his few carries today for Colorado State in their win over Fresno State. He seems to be moving much better after the long recovery following the ACL surgery.

Kevin Harris had a big game today for Wake Forest over Navy.
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ToughJ.Riggins

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Harris has come up big whenever called upon at Wake Forest. Harris has lead his team in yards per carry the two times in his career where he carried the most. This year and in 2006 when he rushed for 393 yards. I think he might be the most screwed RB in the nation, when you look at the background of all things considered. He was dominant against Navy in the biggest show for Wake Forest of the year this year; their Bowl game. Here is a look at Kevin Harris's background from High School.

Some comments on Kevin Harris. These clips are from that old Orlando Sentinel article.


"The best running back in Central Florida this season is Seminole High's Kevin Harris, who is white. He committed recently to Wake Forest because it was one of two Division I-A schools that promised him a shot purely at tailback. Mick Harris, Kevin's father and the coach at Seminole, said that during the recruiting process, "One recruiter just plain told me, 'Coach, I could never bring back a white running back to my university.' I just kind of looked at him, and he said, 'That's just the way it is. They just wouldn't accept it.' So I think it is there. I think there is a perception. But I don't think it's because there is a prejudice against a white running back. I just think it is because of the overwhelming number of black running backs in the NFL and college."


It says there's a stigma. Take Kevin Harris, who rushed for 1,179 yards and nine touchdowns last season as a junior at Winter Springs, then padded his résumé this summer with one of the best workouts at the Nike prep combine in Miami (fourth among 30 running-back prospects, he said).

"I've had a lot of people tell me that if I was black, I'd probably have a lot more looks," Harris says. "There have been a few coaches from other high schools and stuff like that. They ask me about some schools recruiting me: 'What do they want you to play?' And then I tell them linebacker, and they're like, 'They have got to be out of their minds. If you were a black kid, you'd be on the front of all the magazines.' I get a lot of that."
But apparently little respect as a tailback.

Here's more according to Kevin's Wake Forest Bio: Harris had the 25th best SPARQ rating in the entire nation at the Nike Combines for all positions. This kid is really getting screwed. The most carries he's ever had in a season was 78.

Maybe after Kevin saved Wake in this Bowl game with 136 yards on 5.7 per carry they will give him a 100 carry season next year. Is even 100 carries too much to ask for this kid? He's clearly their best back. Brandon Pendergrass is only a freshman and only ran for 3.5 yards per carry this year, but got the most carries. How in the hell did he earn a spot ahead of Harris already? There other RB is another underclassmen, red-shirt sophomore Josh Adams, who ran for 3.3 yards per carry this year. Harris has put in his time and next year is his last year of eligibility; but will he get a shot?

Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins
 

ToughJ.Riggins

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Just to add to the History of Kevin Harris. He ran a solid 4.54 40 at the Nike Combine, with an impressive 4.12 short shuttle, a 32 inch vertical and added 26 bench reps. Those are all very solid numbers for a division IA RB with the short shuttle really standing out. But yes despite all Kevin's accolades Rivals had him ranked as the 14th best FB in 2005.
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Colonel_Reb

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bigunreal

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Tough JR,

Thanks for the nice background info on Kevin Harris. How clear cut does this have to be? What's really interesting are the comments from his father. Even though they're basically telling him his son can't play RB simply because of his skin color, this guy still thinks that it's not because of "prejudice."

Someday, someone is going to write a book....
 

Colonel_Reb

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I'm thinking that several people from this site will write books within the next 5 or so years. I hope I'm correct. If I can get enough info together, I might write one myself.
 

Colonel_Reb

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ToughJ.Riggins

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The average combine 40 time for RBs last year was an electronic timed 4.56, so Harris is faster than the average combine RB invitee last year. The average "starting" RB in the NFL runs about a 4.5 flat so Harris isn't much slower than a typical NFL starter.

With all Harris's skill; what he's shown on the field production wise and other qualities on film you can see as a runner other than straight lined track speed, Harris clearly is Wake's best RB. The guy needs to play. Pendergrass and Adams aren't producing and don't have Harris' resume!
 

Colonel_Reb

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ManifestDestiny said:
While a 4.54 is not particularly fast, hopefully Kevin Harris gets a fair shot at runningback.


I hope he gets a fair shot at RB next year and in the NFL as well, but being ignored so far at Wake certainly won't make it any easier. Don't you just love the Caste System?
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The man gets screwed overthe whole seasonand then has an awesome day in the bowl game, only to most likely get screwed again next year. IMHO, Kevin Harris has been treated worse than just about any white RB still on a college roster. I have absolutely no faith in his coaches treating him any better next year. He is a faster than average RB who can punish defenses, but he's white, so all that means nothing.
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speedster

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I'd like to know who this recruiter was who gave Kevin Harris the bad news about his university's policies.This guy needs to be outed and the school put on probation.This disgusting act of caste whorisism if reversed would make headline news.Just think if a black hockey goalie was told the same thing,heads would role.I'm guessing the caste ass-clown recruits for some SEC school in Florida like the Seminoles.
 

celticdb15

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Really speester i have heard so many recruiting stories like this it isn't funny. WHy dont the parents report this to the local media? Make a big deal like their black counterparts would if they were told the same thing!
 

Colonel_Reb

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celticdb15

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Great Col Reb get htis news out!
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Colonel_Reb

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Thanks celtic, I do what I can.
 

Colonel_Reb

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