Saturday was one of the biggest days in Chris Harris’ life.
The undrafted college free agent would learn whether his hard work over the last five weeks in training camp with the Denver Broncos, and over the last five months during the offseason, would pay off or if he would be left unemployed.
So what did the 22-year old cornerback do during the day to prepare himself for his fate?
“I slept, man,” Harris said. “And I bought a PS3 (Sony Playstation 3) and just tried to keep my mind off of it.”
Harris wasn’t sure what the coaches’ and front office staff’s decision would be. The Broncos brought 17 undrafted college free agents into training camp and have typically kept only one for the regular season.
But Harris said he was pretty calm knowing that he did his best in showing the coaches what he could do.
“I wasn’t really too worried, because I did all I could and went as hard as I could during the camp and preseason games,” Harris said. “Whatever God had planned for me was going to happen, but I wasn’t too worried, because I did the best I could.”
That effort made Harris a Denver Bronco.
Harris was the only college free agent the Broncos signed onto the active roster, marking the eighth straight year the team came out of training camp with at least one college free agent on the 53-man roster. Harris notched eight solo tackles in the preseason and led the team with six special-teams stops — and the coaches noticed that production.
“He showed toughness, coverage ability, feistiness, aggressiveness, and that’s all on defense in practice and in games,” General Manager Brian Xanders said. “On the preseason tape, as it went on, he became one of the better corners on special teams. He was physical; he was fast; he was tough, so he fit the traits for that fourth or fifth corner.”
During training camp, coaches have said that a player’s ability to quickly learn the playbook, especially with the shortened offseason, could be the difference between a player making a roster or not. Harris thinks that ability, plus his versatility, is what set him apart from other players.
“The ability to play multiple positions, grasping the defense well, playing corner and nickel and playing special teams (is what set me apart),” Harris said. “I learned the whole defense in that short span of a month real fast so I think that helped me a lot.”
Usually teams sign college free agents in the few days following the NFL draft in April, and those players have all summer to learn the playbook. But with clubs unable to contact undrafted players for most of the offseason, Harris trained for months without knowing if any team would give him a shot to play in the NFL.
He’s thankful the Broncos gave him that opportunity, and now he’s ready to validate their confidence in him.
“It’s a big accomplishment, because we — (the college free agents) — were in limbo,” Harris said. “There was a lockout; we didn’t know where we were going to be. We didn’t know if we were going to get that call, so I definitely cherish it a lot. It still hasn’t hit me, really. It has hit me, but it’s like, ‘I’m here now; it’s time to go.’”
Tags: Chris Harris, Week 1
so he fit the traits for that fourth or fifth corner.Champ,Goody,and Wilhite must be top 3,then Harris!
considering we only have 4 CBs active!
Congrats C Harris!
Broncos please go sign Derek Landri DT.
Oh forgot about Vaughn,we have 5 active CBs!
Champ
Goody
Vaughn
Wilhite
Harris
Hopefully he can have an impact. I like to see the underdogs make it.
I’m probably gonna get beat on for this, but I say we lose week 1.
Den-17
Oak-21
Hope I am wrong, but the team has to prove to me that it can win before I pick them to best a team that swept us last season.
My worry is safty! Going into the season with 2 rookies and Bruton who can’t seem to make it through a game healthy since he’s such a wild man.
Austin, that’s understandable looking at what we have. I personally think that Rahim Moore will be very good, maybe not this year but certainly in year 2 and beyond. Dawkins just doesn’t have the speed anymore, and there is not much depth.
My biggest concern is still DT. Just don’t think we have good enough players to consistently stuff the run, which by the way Oak is very good at. Maybe they will prove me wrong, but I just don’t see it.
Did you guys see that David Garrard got cut? Craziness. Any team that would have been interested in Orton or Quinn will surely jump on Garrard. I know in reality Denver won’t trade off any of our QB’s, but I still had hope even though it was pointless. Now that hope is gone lol.
Oh well.
Go Broncos!… Please beat the Raiders. They smell and act like rotten garbage.
Congrats to Harris. Keep working hard young man, make things happen.
I think we are pretty strong at Safety with Dawk and Moore starting,and Bruton and Carter as backups,with McCarthy on the PS!
I also think Moore will be an impact starter,giving us a big boost from last year,(Hill)!!!
Austin I was worried about Safety as well especially with An Old Dawk and 2 rookie safeties and ONE being the only FS … Always thought Bruton was a SS but it is what it is.
Congrats to harris. I don’t think I saw quite what they saw in the preseason games but as long as they saw it thats all that matters. Probably his versitility like he said, I did’t really pay attention on special teams because it has become a non-factor of late. Anyway, congrats to the kid. 4.4 speed and good size.
The way I personally see the line up is:
Champ
Goody
Wilhite
Vaughn
Harris
Once Vaughn gets down the D that is. Because he has played and started at both Outside and inside, which he will have to do when champ moves inwards to cover the slot.
Besides, I think we are losing a weapon in Return game with Vaughn playing CB more. TRB
BFE, whats up bro?
bones im with you. I would love to sing Landri. I still beleive we need depth when it comes to DT.
We signed OT Tony Hills former Steeler, waived Herb Taylor.
Hey strand,not much bro,just waiting for this freaking rain to stop,been raining for 3 days now,coming from the TS whatever it’s name is!
We’ve had like 5 inches so far!
Things are happening.
Where did you get the news from Bro?
Nice story about Chris Harris. However, would any of you rather have Darius Butler at corner instead of Harris? Butler was waived by the Patriots today. I doubt the Broncos will pick up Butler, but he certainly is a tempting corner to put a waiver claim in on.
No freaken way, that sucks. Dude, I`m listening to Billy Sqiuer, good ole Rock n Roll.
I don’t even know who the Hell Herb Taylor is,lol.
About every source possible, Adam Schefter, Denver Post, Denver Broncos, Lidsay Jones
The Stroke!!!
Kool thanks for the info Bro!!!
Hills 6’5″ 304lbs and played in 4 games last year. Hills can play G also says the denver post.
Butler is available?? Yeah I would take him. Although ya gotta root for Harris being the underdog. Sounds like his work paid off, and having good players on special teams is always nice.
Like the OT pick up especially since it is from the Steelers. They usually have pretty good men on the Oline. Pouncey anyone? Would have LOVED him on our team.
Lonely is the Night.
Good news Bro. Didn’t have Taylor on my final 53. Saw 2 occasions when D-linmen blew by him on their way to Tebow, (with apologies to Bay, should say “you know who”).
Well at least we got a little better in the depth department at T and G!
Emotions in motion!!!
Awesome CD bro. GO BRONCOS.
In The Dark.
If we could just add 1 decent DT to our roster,I’d feel a lot better going into the season,McBean and Unrein are both just bodies,imo.
In the Dark!!!
New blog post.
LOL.
Too daze gone!!!
I meant once wilhite learns the defense. TRB
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