Achilles injury knocks out Gators’ Harris
GAINESVILLE — UF safety Marcell Harris had to wait to make his mark in the Gators’ vaunted secondary, but in 2016 emerged as one of its leaders and future stars.
Instead, Harris’ 2017 season ended before it started. The school announced Thursday the fifth-year senior from Orlando is out for the year with a torn Achilles tendon.
Harris’ injury is a major blow to a Florida Gators secondary with serious holes to fill after losing three starters from 2016 — all secondround picks in the NFL Draft.
The former Dr. Phillips star recorded a team-leading 73 tackles during 2016, including 39 during the season’s final four games. This included a stop on the goalline stand at LSU.
Harris was one of just four returning starters on defense for the Gators. Last week at the SEC Media Days, Harris he predicted UF would not suffer a dropoff despite losing so many key players from a top-10 defense.
“Best defense in the nation. That’s how we come out,” Harris said. “That’s how we go about things. That’s what our attitude is: we come out to be the best every time.”
The 2017 Gators now will move on without one of their leaders.
“As a coach this is one of the hardest things you are faced with,” coach Jim McElwain said in a statement. “Here is a kid who has made great personal growth during his time here and has really matured both on and off the field. It is tough to see a player invest so much in himself and his teammates and have this happen, but I do know that we will support him every step of the way as he works through this injury.”
Fellow senior Nick Washington returns at free safety after missing the final two games with an ankle injury. Chauncey Gardner replaced him as a freshman and was the MVP of the Outback Bowl. But Gardner was working at cornerback during spring practices.
Sophomore Jeawon Taylor also was expected to be a factor on the back end of the defense.
UF did sign six defensive backs in the 2017 class, including four four-star recruits. Donovan Stiner, a three-star recruit from Texas, is the only one of the six who played safety in high school.
No matter who steps in, Harris’ experience and physical style will be missed.
Harris has appeared in 37 games at UF, including 13 last season — eight of them starts.
Of his 73 stops in 2016, four were for loss. He also recorded one sack, two interceptions, one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
In addition, he scored the first touchdown of his career on special teams at FSU on a fumbled punt.