Interview: Virginia commitment Crest RB Tre Harbison makes mockery of rankings, readies for another title

Since the advent of services and websites ranking high school football recruits gross miscalculations have been made year after year. In a million years there will never be anything wrong with being considered a 3-star athlete but for Crest High School running back Tre Harbison the ranking is an error in evaluation by multiple “experts.”

Time and time again when a recruit verbally commits early said recruit rarely rises in the rankings because, more times than not, total number of scholarship offers are a big factor in most recruiting ranking equations. While Harbison has victimized opposing North Carolina defenses over the last two years, off the field the 5’11”, 210 pound, speedster appears to be the one getting victimized off the gridiron.

Sometimes the numbers do lie but in the case of Harbison they actually tell an incomplete story. In 2013 the Chargers went 14-2 with the sophomore running back splitting time with senior Jalin Moore (Appalachian State). With seven less carries Harbison racked up 98 more yards than his elder teammate posting 1,554 yards with 22 touchdowns. As a junior the Shelby area star increased his production rushing for 1,843 yards with 36 more touchdowns helping Crest go undefeated with a record of 16-0.

Showing versatility to his game, in 2014 Harbison also caught 12 passes for 199 yards finding the end zone two more times.

In summation, over the last two seasons Harbison has carried the ball 464 times for 3,397 yards with 58 rushing touchdowns. Approaching 500 carries over two seasons and still has an 8.61 yard per carry average, but is only ranked a 3-star recruit by some of the more recognizable recruiting services.

The kicker to Harbison’s game, he is an every down back. He can run in between the tackles, off tackle, sweeps, catch the ball on passing downs, can stay back to pick up the blitz, and even runs the Wildcat offense.

Crest is stacked with talent year after year, all acknowledgements to the big guys up front, but Harbison is blessed not only with size but blazing speed. Two weeks ago he ran a 4.46 forty-yard dash. He’s a one-cut and gone kind of runner. Even some of the delayed handoffs seem to give the defense a chance to close in on him at the line of scrimmage but one move later and he is 10-15 yards down the field decreasing the angle of a safety or cornerback on the way to the end zone.

The sad part to his video game-like numbers, over the past two seasons he’s only played in about half the games because Crest engineered blowout after blowout.

College recruiters have taken notice with 12 teams extending offers. In the end University of Virginia won the honors with Harbison committing on April 12.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview Tre sat down to talk about his accomplishments on the field, Crest’s state championship run in 2014, recruiting, and prognosticates about the Chargers’ 2015 season.

 

Tre, first, congratulations on an amazing 2014 season. Going into the season did the team and coaches know just how good you guys were?

“I knew we were going to have a good team when we lost in the state championship the year before. We had most everyone was coming back. We knew what it took to get to the sate championship. Everyone was working their tails’ off. When we played South Point (Game 1, 35-13), we’ve lost to them in the past, we knew it at halftime. Throughout the season no one could stand up to us.

“In the playoffs we knew each game was more and more important. We took each game with a serious approach all the way through the playoffs.”

How many individual honors did you take home at the end of last year?

“I was All-County, All-Conference, All-Region, MVP of the team, and All-State.”

How do the Chargers look right now heading into the 2015 season?

“Offensively we’ll be as good. On defense we’re losing some guys that were really good. We’re losing the school’s all-time interceptions leader (Dominique Roseboro, 21 career INTs) and our sack leader (Omar Brooks – 18.5 sacks). We have some good quality guys coming in to replace them.

“The only thing we have to do is stay focused. We have a lot of returning players coming back. We have to keep doing what we were doing.”

What are your strengths on the field as a running back?

“I feel like I don’t have a problem with blocking. I can run. I’m really good seeing the holes, my vision is great, I’m good at seeing things happen before they happen.

For those readers out there who have never seen you play describe your running style.

“I’m a one-step guy, not a jitter bug type. I’m not trying to run everyone over but I will if I have to. I’m one cut up the field, an Arian Foster or Matt Forte type.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“My team goal is to get another state championship. My personal goal is to get the school all-time rushing record and the county all-time rushing record. I’m 2,000 yards shy of the county record and 1,000 yards away from the school record.”

Will new Crest head coach Will Clark play you at another position during your senior year? Expand your role on the team in some way?

“I don’t think so. I think he’ll try to keep everything like last year.”

What are you doing in the offseason to prepare for your senior year?

“I’m working with my trainer Tremaynes Stephens, he played in college (North Carolina State) and in the NFL (1998-2001 San Diego Chargers and Indianapolis Colts). He gives me running back tips. I’m working hard in the weight room. I’m also making sure everyone is focused on another state championship.”

Do you participate in any other sports at Crest?

“I run track.”

What are your events?

“The 100 meters and the 4×1.”

What is your best time in the 100?

“10.8.”

Let’s talk a little bit about recruiting. Which schools have extended offers to you?

“Virginia, BC (Boston College), ECU (East Carolina), UNC (North Carolina), N.C. State, Pitt, South Carolina, Vandy, Wake, West Virginia, Louisville, Syracuse, Appalachian State, and Garner Webb have all offered.”

You committed early in the process. What led you to choose Virginia?

“I felt like it was the right place for me. I felt comfortable there, it felt like home. They’re only taking one running back in my class. Also, I’m plan on being an early enrollee. I’m trying to get there early.”

How did your commit take place?

“I called the head coach (Mike London) and told him. Then I called Coach (Marques) Hagan, he was my lead recruiter. After that I talked to my position coach (Chris Beatty).”

What were the reactions of the coaches?

“They were really pumped and excited having me in their offense. They said I can help turning things around.”

Would you say you are a hard commit to Virginia?

“I am a hard commit to Virginia. I’m not a changing my mind type of guy.”

Are you going to talk all of your official visits during your senior year?

“I’ll probably go to Virginia but none other than that.”

What NFL player do you model your game after?

“I like watching Arian Foster (Houston Texans) and Le’Veon Bell (Pittsburgh Steelers). Bell is great catching the ball out of the back field. I like Zac Stacy, the Rams running back. We talked during my recruitment to Vandy. I like how he carries himself as a man not just a football player.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“It’s another home away from home. I’ve been playing since I was five-years-old. It’s a big part of my family. It’s a great sport.”

 

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: nbc29.com; No. 21 Tre Harbison.

Photo credit: digitalcourrier.com; No. 21 Tre Harbison escapes five defenders for Crest.