Northwest Missouri State RB Jay Harris Breaks Down Oregon Commitment
Oregon landed a big commitment on Monday morning from Northwest Missouri State running back Jay Harris, who was in Eugene for a visit over the weekend.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound back spoke with Ducks Digest about what went into his decision, what's next and much more.
For the St. Louis native, a relationship with running backs coach Carlos Locklyn was near the top of the list for why he chose to become a Duck.
"Coach Lock really made that place feel like just not the experience and not the knowledge that I'm gonna get out of another coach," Harris said of his decision. "I feel Coach Lock really set that standard and he's gonna do what he says. Oregon, just going up there and visiting, Grandma felt like it was home, I felt like it was home. The people there are very nice. That school felt like home for me as soon as I landed really."
Running back Jay Harris poses with Oregon coach Carlos Locklyn inside Autzen Stadium.
Jay Harris/Oregon Athletics
During his trip out to the Northwest he had a chance to meet some of his future teammates and get a taste of the culture around the Oregon program.
"It was nice. I had the chance to get with some of the teammates," he said. "The guys are very nice, the way they practice fast, with intensity, I like that coming out of a school like that. Just Nike university, no other school can compare to that. Northwest had its own tradition, had its own thing going and I don't feel any other school can really compete with that in the Big Ten."
Harris' move to Eugene will give him an opportunity to play for Dan Lanning, a head coach that also hails from his home state of Missouri.
"Me and Coach Lanning, we could relate on a lot on a lot of different things. Coach Lanning's from this Midwest area and his wife went to Northwest," he said. "We connected as soon as we met each other. Coach Lanning's a great guy. He comes from the bottom, so he knows the struggle and working your way up and all that---how that really takes a part in this type of journey."
Jay Harris poses with head coach Dan Lanning during a trip to Oregon.
Jay Harris/Oregon Athletics
Oregon's newest back will join a room with no shortage of talent, which is set to feature some of the best backs out West in Noah Whittington and Jordan James.
"I feel like I fit in very well," he said. "I feel like it's gonna be a great room, with a three-headed monster coming in there just actually replacing what Bucky [Irving] left there, me coming in replacing him, is gonna really be beneficial to what coach and offense is looking for.
"I know Noah's gonna push me, I'm gonna push him. Jordan James is gonna push me every day and I'm gonna try to get the best out of them. They're gonna try to get best out of me, which I expect. It's gonna be crazy with us three in that backfield. I know that for sure."
Now that he's locked in with the Ducks, it sounds like he'll be joining the team in the near future if all goes according to plan.
"I'll be going down with them for the Fiesta Bowl and I'll be starting bowl practice with them as well."
Oregon's newest back compares the style of his game to two versatile backs that have starred at the NFL level in recent years.
"I would say I move like a mixture of Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Le'Veon Bell, mixture of those two backs I would say on my end. Me personally I feel it's a mixture of Najee, Le'Veon Bell."
Following his commitment to Oregon, Harris is ready to put on a show under the lights at Autzen Stadium.
"I'm most excited about just showing the world who I am, what I can do," he said. "I come from the bottom so, not many people really know about Jay Harris, but they'll know real soon."
