Back from injury, Manatee running back pushing it to the next level
Manatee High running back Napoleon Harris sensed something was wrong during the Hurricanes’ Week 5 game against Lakeland Kathleen. The senior felt like he was being tentative as he made his season debut after returning from a torn left ACL suffered last year.
Harris asked teammate Jamil Williams if he thought Harris was running hard enough. The response: no. That pushed Harris to run harder and not worry about reinjuring himself.
Harris scored touchdowns in each of his next two games, rushed for 142 yards and two scores against Venice and ran for a team-high 64 yards and a touchdown in a 31-28 win against New Port Richey Mitchell last week in the second round of the playoffs.
Just how important Harris has been to the Hurricanes can be seen in their record. They are 8-0 this season when he plays, 0-4 when he doesn’t.
“He’s the leader,” Hurricanes coach Yusuf Shakir said. “He sets the tone for how we practice, how we play, how we do everything. He’s got that juice, that energizing level for everybody around him. He just loves to practice, he just loves to play, and that’s infectious.”
The third-seeded Hurricanes (8-4) play host to fifth-seeded Venice (7-4) in the Class 7A-Region 3 championship game on Friday for a spot in the state semifinals. They defeated Venice 30-13 to close the regular season, a game in which Harris had his best performance of the season.
“It was just the atmosphere and the big stage, district game, so I felt I should tighten up my game and get ready for the big game,” said Harris, who has rushed for 432 yards and six touchdowns this season. “I’m really excited because it’s a regional championship, so it’s win or go home.”
Venice’s defense is weaker than it has been in the past three seasons, a span that includes a state championship in 2017 and state semifinal appearances in 2016 and 2018. But the Indians still have four players with at least 81 tackles on their defensive front.
Of course, Harris, who is averaging 4.9 yards per carry, can be difficult to tackle, something Shakir noticed immediately when he became the Hurricanes’ coach in Harris’s sophomore year.
Harris had been playing slot receiver, but Shakir decided to move him to running back. It would be easier to hand the ball off to Harris, Shakir’s thinking went, rather than attempt a pass to him.
“He’s just been explosive ever since,” Shakir said. “He brings that elite-level speed and quickness and explosiveness. He’s just an all-around back, very physical and fast.”
Harris was upset he couldn’t finish his junior season after suffering his injury during his team’s Week 4 game last year. After the lengthy rehabilitation process, he spent the first few weeks of this season bonding with teammates and preparing himself mentally to play.
He’s grateful the Hurricanes are still playing.
“I feel very, very proud of my team and my O-line,” Harris said. “I’m thankful for another chance to play and to show what I really have.”
This story was originally published November 15, 2019 at 7:46 AM.