EDNA – A lot of speculation around Edna has centered around what position Braylen Harris is going to play as a senior.
A better question might be where is Harris not going to play?
Harris could line up at quarterback, wide receiver or running back on offense, and cornerback or safety on defense.
“We’ve just got to do a good job of moving him around and finding different packages for him that he feels comfortable with,†said Edna head coach Jimmie Mitchell. “It’s kind of up to us to get him in a situation where he can have success.â€
Harris had a breakout junior season at wide receiver for the Cowboys, who advanced to the Class 3A, Division I semifinals.
He caught 53 passes for 1,531 yards and 25 touchdowns, while also rushing for 94 yards and two touchdowns, and adding 214 return yards and one touchdown.
“I think it was a mind set thing,†Harris said. “With Floyd (Ragsdale) leaving, I had to step up and have a crazy year. It was like, ‘If I’m not going to do it, who is?’ I think it was a mind set thing to field that spot.â€
Harris has shown a willingness to play wherever he is needed, and is certain his versatility will benefit him in the future.
“It kind of makes me look a little better just being diverse and playing different positions,†he said. “I feel like it will confuse the other teams. You can’t concentrate on stopping one person, so it will be good to move me around.â€
Mitchell and his staff have been working on formations to put Harris in the best situation possible for the Cowboys, who are ranked No. 5 in the preseason state poll.
“There’s a fine line of having certain packages with him at quarterback, and trying to get him in places where he’s one-on-one,†Mitchell said. “We’re pretty confident there are not very many people who can cover him like that.
“On defense, he’s unbelievable too. He’s really smart. He can play cornerback, which he’s really good at. We can put him in there at safety in passing situations. He’s a super-intelligent kid so he’s going to be able to do a lot of different things.â€
Harris played quarterback as a freshman on the junior varsity team. He got reps at quarterback in 7on7 over the summer and he spent a lot of the summer throwing to receivers.
“It’s just knowing what the linemen are doing and reading the defense that will probably be the biggest change,†he said. “Instead of just running a route and being in a spot and reading the defender, I have to see the whole defense and know what everybody else is doing.â€
Harris’ goal for his senior season is to have 2,000 all-purpose yards, and to avoid the inconsistencies which plagued Edna last season.
“I think it’s a matter of having leaders and not getting down,†Harris said. “Picking each other up and not just being down on your teammates and just encouraging everybody.â€
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Harris is a four-sport athlete, who has offers from Florida A&M and Murray State.
Mitchell expects Harris to attract more offers when teams realize his potential.
“He’s really young,†Mitchell said. “He’s one of those kids who started early. I think he’s one of those kids who are going to be a 17-year-old senior. That’s unfortunate for us because he just started maturing.â€
