A product of Longhorn Excellence: Baseball's Luke Harrison
Texas pitcher and former Longhorn Foundation intern describes his student-athlete experience with commencement approaching.
Megan Murray
5/7/2025
Luke Harrison, native of Friendswood, Texas, has always had a passion for sports. Whether it was getting involved in baseball, football, soccer, or basketball growing up, Harrison knew he wanted to continue his athletic journey into college. As a lefty, Luke quickly discovered his pitching advantage as a southpaw and ultimately decided to direct his attention to baseball in high school. Driven by a pursuit of excellence and a desire for a collegiate athletics experience, Harrison had hopes of becoming a Longhorn.
After participating in a camp hosted by Texas Baseball, Luke was offered a spot on the team and committed to the storied program as soon as he could. Harrison recalls, “The opportunity to play at Texas is something that not a lot of people get, and I felt like it was definitely something I wanted to capitalize on and not hesitate at all.”
Now being on the baseball team for four years, Harrison has gained countless experiences as a student-athlete. Texas’ transition into the Southeastern Conference has allowed the pitcher to take his game to college baseball’s strongest league. “It’s been fun getting to face new opponents and have the opportunity to get tested against the best of the best week in and week out. The grind of the SEC schedule is very real, but we’ve found that we can compete with anybody we’re put up against,” Harrison notes. He credits Texas Baseball Assistant Coach Max Weiner for his constant support and high energy throughout the season, and notes that Coach Weiner has everyone motivated to get better every day while fostering a “person over performance culture.”
The left-handed pitcher has a unique perspective on the Longhorn Foundation. In addition to being a student-athlete, Harrison was able to see the generosity of Longhorn Foundation donors firsthand as a former intern within the department. “My experience as an intern for the Longhorn Foundation gave me a great perspective on how big the Longhorn family is. It was amazing to see how many people really care and are looking to make an impact on Texas student-athletes,” Harrison says. “The opportunity to work at the Longhorn Foundation made me even more grateful to be a student-athlete at The University of Texas. We are fortunate to have such a premier donor and alumni network.”
Reflecting on his collegiate experience as a Longhorn, Harrison is immensely grateful for the impact Longhorn Excellence has made in his life off the field. “Being able to easily access the Texas Athletics Nutrition Center [TANC] and the Student-Athlete Academic Center helps me to be the best version of myself in all areas. Longhorn Excellence is really what drives the day in the life for student-athletes. It’s what separates Texas from the rest.” As the Texas Baseball postseason quickly approaches, Harrison remains thankful for the lasting benefits Longhorn Excellence has made in preparing him for competition and coursework as a physical culture and sports major.
Longhorn Excellence is really what drives the day in the life for student-athletes. It’s what separates Texas from the rest.Luke Harrison
While there have been many memories that Harrison will remember well after his career at Texas, he notes the community around him has made a tremendous impact. “Day in and day out, just being around with the guys is a lot of fun and something I don’t take for granted,” Luke said. “The culture at Texas is incredible, and I’ll remember the experiences with the staff and my teammates more than anything.”
The redshirt junior is set to graduate in the coming days, coincidentally occurring the same weekend of the regular season home finale against Florida beginning May 9. Harrison notes the significance of receiving a degree from Texas, stating, “A degree from Texas holds a lot of weight, and it’ll be one of my life’s greatest accomplishments. I’m not sure it’s fully set in.”
A degree from Texas holds a lot of weight, and it'll be one of my life's greatest accomplishments.Luke Harrison
Luke Harrison’s long-standing passion for sports ultimately led him to achieving remarkable success on and off the mound at UT. Through hard work and dedication to practice, Harrison has made a name for himself on the Forty Acres – an opportunity he will always be thankful for. “I have so much appreciation for the Longhorn Foundation and its donors. Thank y'all so much for all the ways y'all have positively effected my life.”
