BOZEMAN — Reed Harris and the Nice Falls soccer crew will encounter a superb drawback within the fall.
Harris is an all-state quarterback, though he earned his all-state standing as an athlete. The junior hasn’t overwhelmed Class AA together with his passing capability, however together with his dynamic dual-threat capability and robust defensive abilities at security. His dimension (6-foot-5, 210 kilos) and velocity (4.5-second 40-yard sprint) have been tantalizing for school recruiters; primarily at positions apart from QB.
Harris introduced his dedication to Boston School on Thursday. The three-star recruit plans to play vast receiver for the Eagles, he advised 406mtsports.com on Friday. Not solely has he by no means performed that place at Nice Falls, he doesn’t plan to play it throughout his senior season.
Harris would possibly really feel some stress to line up at receiver within the fall, as would possibly his coaches. However each he and Nice Falls head coach Coda Tchida say they’re snug with him remaining at QB. Harris can have time to work on his wideout abilities, and his expertise would possibly make up for misplaced time.
Proper now, Harris is much less centered on his place than he’s on the prospect to play within the Atlantic Coast Convention, top-of-the-line within the Soccer Bowl Subdivision.
“It is all the time been a dream to play within the FBS, going in opposition to all of the competitors from states like Texas or California,” Harris stated. “It will be actually cool to symbolize Montana once I go on the market and begin competing in opposition to all these different guys.”
Nice Falls’ Reed Harris seems to be to cross in opposition to Billings Senior at Wendy’s Discipline at Daylis Stadium in Billings on Sept. 18, 2020.
Some colleges expressed curiosity in Harris as a decent finish, he stated. His dimension matches the profile of a future school tight finish, however he’s virtually too quick for that place — his greatest 40 time has been clocked at 4.48 seconds, he stated, and his private greatest 100-meter sprint time is 11.14 seconds. There aren’t many receivers at any stage together with his body and velocity.
Harris, in fact, isn’t locked into receiver for the remainder of his profession, as he has seen shut up. Troy Andersen thrived at quarterback, operating again, outdoors linebacker and — most just lately — inside linebacker throughout his legendary profession at Montana State. Former Nice Falls soccer coach Mark Samson believed outdoors linebacker would’ve been a superb match for Harris on the school stage.
“If the teaching workers wants me to play tight finish or type of be a normal tight finish in a ramification set, I really feel like that’d be one thing I would be focused on doing,” Harris stated. “If one place would not work out, you possibly can all the time strive one other one and see how that goes.”
For now, BC desires Harris as a receiver, and the Eagles’ curiosity in him was the primary motive he dedicated
“They have been on the lookout for a tall receiver sort, they usually stated that I match what they wanted completely,” Harris stated. “They made me really feel like I might have had an ideal dwelling there.”
Harris additionally obtained scholarship gives from fellow Energy 5 packages Oregon State and Iowa State. Different FBS gives got here from Central Michigan, Colorado State, San Diego State and Utah State. MSU was certainly one of a number of Soccer Championship Subdivision colleges to increase gives, together with Harvard and Huge Sky packages Montana, Idaho and Idaho State. Montana Tech of the NAIA additionally supplied Harris, who’s the top-ranked recruit in Montana and the Forty eighth-ranked athlete within the nation for the Class of 2023, in line with 247 Sports activities.
Harris thought-about UM and MSU, and the Bobcats had been practically his best choice as a result of he “actually appreciated their teaching workers,” he stated, particularly head coach Brent Vigen. Iowa State was additionally close to the highest of his listing.
BC grew to become the entrance runner after he took an unofficial go to to Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, two weekends in the past.
Billings West’s Tyler Blaquire pressures Nice Falls’ Reed Harris throughout their Class AA soccer recreation at Wendy’s Discipline at Daylis Stadium in Billings on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020.
“I obtained to satisfy all of the coaches, they usually had been all nice,” Harris stated. “I felt like I used to be forming a very good relationship with them. I additionally obtained to see certainly one of their spring practices and the spring recreation, and that was enjoyable to see how issues operated on the ACC stage.
“They actually made me really feel like I used to be a high precedence to them. After I obtained again, I talked with my mother and I advised her that I assumed I used to be prepared for it.”
The two,400-plus miles between BC and Nice Falls had been “the one dangerous factor” about it, he stated, however that grew to become a minor concern. His sister, Alison, attends Macalester School in Minnesota and advised him that she obtained used to the space after a few month (Harris moved from Minnesota to Montana when he was 1).
Taking part in in a distinct state additionally appeals to Harris. Montana hasn’t despatched many athletes to FBS packages since Ryan Leaf, a Nice Falls CMR and Washington State graduate who was the No. 2 total decide within the 1998 NFL Draft.
“Guys ask me the place I am from, I say I am from Montana, they usually’re type of skeptical as a result of they do not even assume that Montana is definitely an actual place,” Harris stated. “Having the ability to symbolize the state like Troy Andersen and Ryan Leaf did, it is actually a cool alternative.”
Harris gained’t be capable of signal with BC till December, however the dedication will seemingly ease some stress. He’ll attempt to enhance on a 2021 season by which he accomplished 114 of 202 passes (56%) for 1,544 yards, 12 touchdowns and 9 interceptions, per MaxPreps. He additionally rushed 122 occasions for 537 yards (4.4 yards per carry) and 5 TDs and made 22 tackles. He hasn’t caught a cross in his highschool profession.
Whereas Harris will stay a QB, Tchida will attempt to get him some receiver reps throughout video games. The previous receivers coach additionally plans to work with Harris outdoors of video games and practices. He’s assured Harris will turn into a superb wideout regardless.
“He’s so athletic, and he’s greater than prepared to place within the time,” Tchida stated. “Nice Falls Excessive hasn’t had an athlete of his caliber shortly.”
