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Canes QB Says He Can Handle The Pressure

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The Miami Herald

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 26, 2008

MIAMI - The 18-year-old quarterback who will lead the University of Miami in its historic Dolphin Stadium debut is a young man beyond his years in handling pressure.

Last September, then-Miami Northwestern High senior Jacory Harris led the Bulls in Dallas against the nation's No. 1 team in front of 31,896 fans. He never lost a game in 30 starts for Northwestern. That's consecutive state championships and a consensus national title.

"He reminds me of a rock star," said Miami senior WR Khalil Jones, a Northwestern alum. "I marvel at how well he handles pressure and how well he has come along in such a short time. I'm proud of him."

Harris who has a soft touch and tremendous poise in and out of the pocket, won his first state title on the field where he will make his first collegiate start, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against Charleston Southern.

"I kind of feel like I'm a sophomore even though I haven't played football on the collegiate level," Harris said. "I don't know anyone who doesn't envision themselves playing in that first game and leading his team to victory."

MARVE "STILL THE GUY:" Harris' good fortune comes at the expense of fellow QB Robert Marve, a redshirt freshman out of Plant High whose one-game suspension made this start possible. UM coach Randy Shannon reiterated that Marve won the starting job and will be the starter all season.

"Marve is the guy," Shannon said.

The coach was asked if that was permanent.

"The whole year," Shannon said, adding, "Jacory is going to play. We have to build depth at that position. We cannot go into the season and say, 'OK, Robert Marve, you're the starter,' and 'Jacory, you're not going to take a snap.' We're going to play both of those guys."

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