The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Harris signs as free agent with Philadelphia
05.03.2015 | Football
In 2004, wide receiver became just sixth player in school history to post 1,000 receiving yards in a season
2015 NFL Draft Index | Video: Highlights of Harris
John Harris will look to join a pair of former teammates on an NFL roster. The wide receiver, who had a breakout senior season, was signed as free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Harris was one of 16 players who signed a free-agent deal with the team after the NFL Draft concluded Saturday. Linebacker Emmanuel Acho, who played at Texas from 2008 to 2011, has spent the last two years with the organization. The Eagles picked linebacker Jordan Hicks in the third round of this year's draft.
After posting nine receptions and 190 receiving yards combined in the three previous seasons, Harris had 68 catches for 1,051 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2014. His receptions total rank No. 7 on the school's single-season list and his receiving yards are eighth. Harris is one of only six players in UT history to post 1,000 or more receiving yards in a season.
"John is someone who came into his own this past season," head coach Charlie Strong said. "You look at a player who worked his way up and became an unbelievable player just because of his work ethic. He was someone who people said can't get it done and he proved a lot of people wrong."
This past season, Harris had four games with 100 or more receiving yards, including a career-high 165 vs. Texas Tech (Nov. 1). He also had a career-best nine receptions in a pair games – vs. Iowa State (Oct. 18) and at Oklahoma State (Nov. 15). He ended the year ranked No. 29 nationally in receiving yards (80.8 per game) and 50th in receptions (4.9 pg).
"He made some really big catches for us and was one of our most outstanding wide receivers just because he played so hard," Strong said.
A native of Garland, Texas, Harris played in 36 career games, including all 13 in 2014. He participated in the College Gridiron Showcase in Arlington, Texas, in January.
