Interview with Ellender Louisiana RB Justen Harris

To reach your goals you must be hungry and willing to do anything to reach them. Whether it’s playing running back, wide receiver, or returning a kick Justen Harris does it all to reach his goal of playing college football.

Justen Harris attends Ellender High School in Houma, Louisiana and is the jack-of-all-trades for his team. The senior speedster accumulated 1,300 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns last season for the Ellender Patriots.

In an exclusive Recruiting News interview we sat down with Justen and talked about his high school career.

 

What was your most memorable moment in your senior season?

“Against Assumption we were trading touchdowns. I had just caught a receiving touchdown then they scored quickly then I returned a kickoff for a touchdown to tie the game in the fourth quarter.”

What are your thoughts on your individual performance in 2014?

“I had a lot of fun playing with the other seniors and I had a good season.”

Did you earn any individual honors this past season?

“First team all-district wide receiver, second team kick returner all-district, second team all-district running back, and second team all-region wide receiver.”

What was your most memorable game in your high school career?

“When I attended Vanderbilt Catholic in a game against Assumption to make the playoffs we had to win. I had four touchdowns and 176 rushing yards in the first half. I finished the game with 186 total yards and five touchdowns. The coach put some of the seniors in during the second half because it was their last game.”

What was it like transferring high schools?

“It was different and it made me a lot stronger and made it easier to meet new faces and focus on the same goal to reach the state championship.”

Have you attended any camps?

“I attended a Nike SPARQ camp last summer.  It gave me a chance to see where I’m at and what I have to work on to be a D-1 star player.”

Have you made any college visits and received any interest from college?

“I haven’t made any visits. Tabor College in Kansas is really interested in me.  I also received interest from Nicholls State and Southern.”

What has some of the college coaches told you about your game?

“The coach at Tabor looked at my film and thinks I can dominate the conference. That was a big eye-opener for me.”

Do you have a current college player that you try to model your game after?

“Elijah McGuire at Louisiana-Lafayette. I’ve grown up with him. Also Aaron Smith who I went to Vanderbilt Catholic with, he plays college football at Peru State College in Nebraska. They told me the differences between the high school and college game. They keep me striving to do greater things.”

What motivates you to give 100 percent effort on the football field?

“I have a dream to play at the next level. My mindset is that I am hungry. I also lost a close friend when we were both 14 and he was killed by the cops.”

Who has had the most influence on your football career?

“My teammates. I look at them as brothers and my parents who make it to every game and they keep it all the way truthful with me.”

 

The future is bright for this hard working and motivated football star from southern Louisiana.

 

Written by Charlie Beuttel

Photo credit: houmatimes.com; Justen Harris in action.