This is the fourth in a series of interviews with Morgan State senior student-athletes to celebrate their accomplishments and honor their service and dedication with a Senior Spotlight.
The NCAA canceled all winter and spring sports for the remainder of the academic calendar year. In response to the cancellation of the annual athletics banquet, this would give our senior student-athletes a sense of accomplishment and closure.
The fourth student-athlete is senior quarterback
DeAndre Harris, who ranked among the top quarterbacks in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
The Washington, Georgia product played all four years for the Bears and finished his collegiate career completing 54.3 percent of his passes for 4,002 yards and 31 touchdowns. Harris also had 791 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Harris' impressive career ranks him among the school's all-time passers in a number of categories: No. 4 in passing yards – season (1,808); No. 4 in passing touchdowns – season (13); No. 4 in pass completions – career (302); No. 6 in pass attempts – career (556); and T-No. 2 in passing touchdowns – career (31).
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Harris also tied Moses Skillon for the school record in most touchdowns thrown in a game when he tossed five touchdown passes against Virginia-Lynchburg on Nov. 16.
Harris discussed his time academically and athletically at Morgan State.
Questions are in bold, and are followed by Harris' responses.
How would you describe this season?
It was tough a season, going through new head coaches. We were all trying to buy in to what Coach Wheatley was doing. We did our best to compete at a high level, but we just came up short a couple games.
Do you believe the team is going in the right direction?
I do believe Coach Wheatley is leading the team in the right direction. He has a great plan set out for the team and I think the team will be very successful in the next few years to come.
How would you describe coach Wheatley?
He's a great dude. He always wants to see his players succeed and he expects greatness out of you no matter if you're a bench player or starter. He holds people to a high standard.
How has being part of the football team shaped you?
It showed me how to adapt to different situations. Some football teams always stay the same, but since we've had different head coaches we have had to start adapting to different things. It was good things though, it taught me about life and how it changes.
How would you describe your career?
It wasn't really what I expected. I feel like I made some good decisions, but I made some bad decisions too. It's all a part of how football goes and at this point I just have to live with my decisions and actions on the team. But I don't regret it, I loved playing for Morgan.
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Favorite game you played during your career?
My favorite game was playing against North Carolina A&T in 2018. That was one of the best experiences of my life. The A&T players were talking but before the game we knew could win. We knew we could go in there and win. All we had to do was play our best game ever. There were definitely high emotions. It was a crazy game full of ups and downs, but we stayed together. It was better than this year's win at home because it was just like we were supposed to beat them. The first time it was more so we had to beat them, but this year it was like we were supposed to beat them. It was no doubt about it in our minds.
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How have you grown in your four years as a player?
I've become more mature as a player. When I first started at Morgan State, I wasn't really studying film… I was just going with the flow. Then I started studying more film, learning more about football, started learning more about myself, my skillset and what I could bring to the team. When I started watching film, the game started slowing down and I started seeing stuff better on the field. It was like clockwork.
On his relationship with the players and coaches during his four years…
I've built great relationships with a lot of the coaches. I feel like it was a brotherhood. We're like family. I still have guys I talk to that I played with in the past. It's a great team to be apart of and I'm glad I played at Morgan
How do you feel the coronavirus will affect the team heading into the 2020-21 season?
I know a lot of guys on the team and I know they're working hard on the field and in the weight room. But, not going to the weight room as a team kind of messes up the camaraderie of the team. The team won't have the team bonding like they should in the offseason. I wouldn't say it'll slow the team down, but it will definitely have an impact toward this fall… chemistry is very important, especially for the quarterback and receivers. You have to know how the receiver is going to run their route and how's a person going to play, and if the person is going be there to have your back. You got to know if you can trust the person to do his job.
How has the online/virtual learning experience been going so far? Any advantages or challenges?
It's been kind of tough because I take six classes. But you just have to be able to manage and do what you have to do because the teachers are being as understanding as possible. So you just have to your work and keep grinding. The biggest challenge is just getting up for class because I have an 8 a.m., and some people don't just want to wake up and look at a computer screen for 1.5 hours. An advantage would be that some of the work you can do it at your own pace. Some teachers give extensions on due dates.
What will you do in the meantime?
I've been playing video games. Madden, UFC, Call of Duty, NBA 2k, and shooting some basketball with my brother, just trying to enjoy life as best as I can. Just have to keep on grinding and keep on moving on.
What's your message for fellow Morganites while they're away from campus during this pandemic?
I would say try to stay out of the way and get your work done. Try to enjoy life as best you can during this pandemic.
What's next for DeAndre Harris?
I'm trying to be a coach for any sport right now. In high school I played a lot of sports, so I'm familiar with any sport. Before this pandemic came, I was working on playing football overseas. I have a lot of opportunities coming up, I just have to finish school and keep pushing forward.
Previous Senior Spotlights
Roi Wallace
Stanley Davis
Diamond Hunter
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's
Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit
www.morgan.edu.
