Senior Spotlight: WR Maurice Harris Embraces His Role In Cal Offense
Senior wide receiver Maurice Harris is continuing a family tradition at Cal this season, and he crossed the country to do it. Even if the Greensboro, North Carolina native is not playing a big time role in the box score, the Bears have a player that has Cal football running through his veins, in a matter of speaking.
Harris is a cousin of a pair of former Cal Golden Bears, Keenan Allen and Zach Maynard. This season, with Cal rolling to a 4-0 start to remain the only undefeated team in the Pac-12 North entering October, Harris is chipping in where he can on offense while a few others lead the way in the receiving game.
Harris may not be a game-breaking wide receiver, but he is more than capable of filling a complementary role in the Bears offense. In four games so far this season, Harris has caught nine passes for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He is also averaging 11.22 yards per reception, which may not stand out among the best numbers in the game out there, but it still suggests he can be a reliable asset in the passing game when other options may be covered.
Harris shares Cal's X-receiver position with Trevor Davis, another senior who takes the lead at the position as one of Cal's top wide receivers, along with Kenny Lawler. Harris still helps provide veteran leadership on the roster.
Cal brought Harris into the program in 2011, but he did not see the field until 2012 after redshirting his first year on campus. His first two seasons largely saw Harris coming off the bench, but he made the most of those limited opportunities. In a game against Portland State, Harris made a dazzling catch that was worthy of a SportsCenter Top Ten clip and was hailed by many as one of the top plays of the season.
Last season, Harris started to work his way into the starting line-up, starting six games. He became a solid contributor in a complementary role, which is the type of role he has since settled into in Cal's high-flying offense. In 2014, Harris started to hit his stride, recording a reception in each of Cal's final five games.
Harris had a memorable catch in Cal's spring game this past spring, but remains largely an extra receiver for Cal this fall. He seems to accept his role on the team, and is genuinely supportive of his teammates.
"I just want to do my job, and then go back in and make another play," Harris said prior to the start of the season. "That's always been me, but it's still fun to celebrate with the guys."
That is the kind of character player a team like Cal will depend on if and when things do get a bit tense as the season progresses. Like the other seniors on this Cal team, Harris has yet to play in a bowl game. Harris sat out with a redshirt his first season at Cal, which is the last time Cal went to a bowl game. With four wins already in the books, Harris and Cal now are just two wins away from becoming bowl eligible.
Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
