QB Harris talks decision to walk-on at Nebraska
The decision to attend Nebraska’s first Friday Night Lights Camp of the summer ended up changing the course of Belton, Mo. quarterback Bart Harris’ recruitment.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound impressed the Husker coaching staff so much that they invited him back to attend Big Red Weekend on Saturday where they informed him he had an offer to be a preferred walk-on in the 2018 class. After thinking it over for a week and taking another trip to workout at NU’s last Friday Night Lights camp Harris looks to be the only signal-caller the Huskers will be bringing in during this recruiting cycle.
“I went to the first Friday Night Lights camp two weeks ago and I performed pretty good at the camp,” Harris said. “So I took a tour around the campus the next day and visited with the whole staff and I talked with Coach Riley after that and discussed my options (as a preferred walk-on).
“I came back the next week and threw for them again and I had that whole week to consider what I was going to do. Going back and throwing to all of the wide receivers that were committed and I even threw to some guys that I had known since middle school.
“I just really thought it was the best place for me to be with the offense scheme-wise and all the options off of the field. I wanted to make the decision early because I really want to be able to concentrate on my team and winning a championship this season.”
Prior to attending Nebraska’s camps, Harris had already landed FCS offers from the likes of Missouri State, Western Illinois, Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa. However, with the unique situation at Nebraska Harris felt like it was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.
“They said that I would be the only quarterback in the class and that was one of the main factors in making my decision,” Harris said. “They said if they did decide to have a scholarship for a quarterback that I would be the guy. I had pretty much made my decision as soon as I took the tour there. I knew it was the place for me whether it was on scholarship as a walk-on. It’s pretty much the best situation for me all the way around.
“I talked with Coach Riley about coming early which I plan to do since I entered high school. So I’m going to enroll early and try to get some reps during spring ball.”
Harris says the offense Riley and offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf will be running are perfect fits for his skill set.
“They are going to be 40-percent under center and they are going to be throwing the ball a lot and that’s one of the things I do best,” Harris said. “I’m more of a pro-style guy, I can sling it around a little bit. So with the offense that they are going to be running this year with Tanner (Lee), I really thought it was the best offense with my skill set. They really like the way that I threw so that’s the main reason.”
Working out at Nebraska’s second Friday Night Lights camp with all of the wide receiver commits and high-profile prospects was a highlight of Harris’ summer and now that he’s shut down his recruitment the quarterback is ready to get to work with his high school team.
“It was great to get out there and compete and throw to some of those elite wide receivers,” Harris said. “I actually played little league with Mario Goodrich so it was good to get out there and throw to him a little bit. It was a great time to get out there and throw to all of those guys.
“This summer has just been great. Going up to Nebraska, that’s been a great memory to have and my team has been looking pretty good. We’ve got some guys that can go up and get the ball and I’m really excited to get out there and start working to have a great season and to try and win a state championship.”