Marcell Harris misses Under Armour practice

After suffering an MCL injury earlier in the season, Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips safety Marcell Harris sat out the first day of practice at the Under Armour All-America Game.

Harris was in sweatpants throughout practice and looked on as the other players prepared for the game on Jan. 5. Although Harris is being held out, he believes he’s ready to get out there and participate.

“In my mind, I can play,” Harris said. “I’m at about 90 percent right now, but I’m just now coming off of this injury. The coaches don’t want me to go out and hurt anything because they know the type of player I’ll be later in life.”

“If I could, I’d be out there running [in every drill] with them,” Harris added. “I just want to play.”

Despite not participating, the 6-foot-1, 209-pound safety has made it a point to connect with his future Florida Gators teammates as he and linebacker Matt Rolin spent much of the day together on the sidelines.

“You get some guys that are committed to Florida and you try and create that bond before you get up there,” Harris said. “Matt is going to be on the defensive side and he’s going to be in front of me, so I have to trust him to be that guy.”

At this time Harris isn’t expected to participate in the game on Friday, but Gator Country will continue to monitor his status as the week progresses.

drewlaing
Drew is a senior at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. When not at school, Drew resides in Lakeland, Fla. Ever since working on his high school yearbook, Drew has had an interest in pursuing a journalism career after college. In addition to being Editor-in-Chief of his school newspaper, The Samford Crimson, Drew has also been with Gator Country as an intern for one year. He enjoys the finer things in life like Tampa Bay Rays baseball and always making sure to make fun of the Atlanta Braves to Andrew Spivey’s face.