Harley happy that he stuck around
’Canes WR nearly walked away in frustration earlier
RALEIGH, N.C. — When Michael Harley scored the game-winning 54-yard touchdown with 2:43 remaining in the Miami Hurricanes’ 44-41victory at N.C. State on Friday night, he went straight to the ground in what was a cathartic moment for the UM senior receiver.
Knowing what he has felt earlier in his college career, one could understand where those emotions stemmed from after he caught a short slant, broke free from a defender that made him stumble and, regaining his balance, sprinted to the end zone for the go-ahead score.
Following Friday night’s thrilling win, Harley revealed he once wanted to quit football.
“Me being here for four years, it’s been a long journey, a long road,” Harley said. “I came to a point where Iwanted to quit and where I wanted to give up, [but] I’ve just been working hard ever since, and I never gave up.
“Coaches always kept me on my feet. My brothers kept me on my feet. They told me to keep pushing and just keep working, and I just kept working hard until my name was called. Everything came into the light. Hard work pays off.”
As seasons came and went, the former All-American speedster out of St. Thomas Aquinas had yet to have his breakout moment in college, despite his best efforts behind the scenes.
Against N.C. State, Harley had eight catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns. In UM’s previous game against Virginia, he caught 10 passes for 170 yards with a touchdown that earned him ACC Receiver of the Week honors. Harley leads the Hurricanes with 35 receptions for 497 yards and four touchdowns through seven games.
“That’s what you want your seniors to do,” UM coach Manny Diaz said. “You want them to make those plays. He’ll remember that for the rest of his life.”
Harley didn’t specify at what point in his first three seasons he had thoughts of letting go of his career, but the notion grew on him as time passed with others in his class breaking through while he hadn’t had his moment. Harley had 485 receiving yards as a junior last season, 240 as a sophomore and 91 in his freshman campaign.
“Just general frustration, seeing the guys you came in with shining,” Harley said. “But every time I come to Greentree [Practice Fields] I’m so grateful and so blessed to be here because a lot of kids would die to be in this position. I just used that as motivation to just keep going and don’t give up.”