Deonte Harty

Last updated

Deonte Harty
Deonte Harris 2021 (cropped).jpg
Harty with the New Orleans Saints in 2021
No. 3 – Baltimore Ravens
Position: Wide receiver / Return specialist
Personal information
Born: (1997-12-04) December 4, 1997 (age 27)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Height:5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight:170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school: Archbishop Curley
(Baltimore, Maryland)
College: Assumption (2015–2018)
Undrafted: 2019
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 5, 2024
Receptions:79
Receiving yards:943
Receiving touchdowns:5
Rushing yards:123
Return yards:3,121
Return touchdowns:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Deonte Harty (born Deonte Harris, [1] December 4, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Assumption Greyhounds and signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Harty grew up in the Baltimore suburb of Middle River, Maryland and played high school football at Archbishop Curley High School where he also lettered in basketball and track & field. [2]

Contents

Early life

As a senior at Baltimore's Archbishop Curley High School, Harty was named the 2014 Varsity Sports Network Offensive Player of the Year for football. [3] He earned All-Conference and All-State honors, [4] and was selected to The Baltimore Sun's First-team All-Metro for the 2014 football season. [5] That same year, Harty led the Friars to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) B Conference Championship and their first undefeated football season in school history, which included a 28–0 shutout victory over traditional MIAA "A" Conference powerhouse Loyola Blakefield, a game in which Harty amassed 206 total yards (140 rushing, 66 receiving) with 2 touchdowns. [6] He recorded 2,030 yards of total offense for that season with 25 touchdowns in 10 games. He ran for 1,450 yards for the season on 130 carries with 20 rushing touchdowns. In the 2014 MIAA Championship game, Harty had 211 total yards, scoring 5 touchdowns in a 56–14 victory over St. Paul's School to win the league championship. [5]

As a junior (2013) Harty and rushed for 933 yards on 86 carries for the Friars and scored a total of 18 touchdowns (14 rushing and four receiving). His sophomore season (2012), he went for 676 yards on 63 carries with six touchdowns. [5]

College career

Harty played football at Assumption University, a Division II school.

Assumption University career highlights:

  • Holds the NCAA record (regardless of division) as college football's all-time leader for combined touchdown returns – 14
  • Holds the NCAA D-II Record for single-season combined touchdown returns – 8
  • Tied NCAA Division-II Record for single-game kickoff return touchdowns – 2
  • Tied NCAA Division-II Record for single-season punt return touchdowns – 5
  • 2017 Northeast-10 Conference MVP
  • 2015 Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Year
  • 2018 Second-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association
  • 2018 Northeast-10 Conference First-team All-Conference as WR & KR
  • 2017 First-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association
  • 2017 First-team All-American by Conference Commissioner's Association
  • 2017 Second-team All-American by D2football.com
  • 2017 Northeast-10 Conference First-team All-Conference as WR & KR
  • 2015 Don Hansen Football Gazette Second-team All-American [4]

School records:

  • Career Touchdowns (45)
  • All-purpose yards in school history- 6,173
  • Combined touchdown returns in school history – 14
  • Combined touchdown returns in a single season in school history – 8 (2017)
  • Punt return touchdowns in a single season – 5 (2017)
  • Punts returned for touchdowns in a single game – 2 (twice)
  • Kickoffs returned for touchdowns in a single game – 2
  • Punts returned for touchdowns in school history – 8
  • Kickoffs returned for touchdowns in school history – 6 [4]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 6+38 in
(1.69 m)
171 lb
(78 kg)
28+14 in
(0.72 m)
8+34 in
(0.22 m)
4.48 s1.51 s2.50 s4.16 s6.82 s33.0 in
(0.84 m)
9 ft 6 in
(2.90 m)
10 reps
All values from Pro Day [7]

New Orleans Saints

2019 season

Harty signed with the New Orleans Saints as a rookie undrafted free agent in 2019. [8] [9] After an impressive training camp featuring a 78-yard touchdown return against the New York Jets in the pre-season, [10] Harty made the final cut and was named to the Saints 53-man roster. [11]

Harty made his NFL debut on Monday Night Football as the Saints primary kick returner in the season-opener against the Houston Texans. [12] During a Week 3 33–27 road victory against the Seattle Seahawks, he scored his first NFL touchdown on a 53-yard punt return, the NFL's first punt return touchdown of the 2019 season. [13]

Harty finished his rookie year as the leader in punt returns, combined returns, and punt return yards and was selected to the Pro Bowl. He was the first undrafted Saint to make the Pro Bowl roster as a rookie. He was also just one of four players in the league to have a punt return touchdown in 2019. [14] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. [15]

2020 season

Harty was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Saints on August 14, 2020, [16] and was activated two days later. [17] He scored his first professional receiving touchdown in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. [18] On December 19, 2020, Harty was placed on injured reserve. [19] He was activated on January 9, 2021. [20]

2021 season

On November 26, 2021, Harty was suspended three games after a DUI arrest in July. [21]

2022 season

On March 14, 2022, the Saints placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Harty. [22] He was placed on injured reserve on October 15, 2022. [23]

Buffalo Bills

On March 16, 2023, Harty signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. [24] He became one of the team's main kick returners, but also saw some action on offense, catching his first touchdown with the Bills against the New York Giants. In week 18 against the Miami Dolphins, Harty returned a punt 96 yards for a touchdown, sparking a 4th-quarter comeback for the Bills as they would go on to win 21–14 and clinch the AFC East division title. [25] Harty was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance. [26]

Harty was released on March 6, 2024. [27]

Baltimore Ravens

On April 14, 2024, Harty signed with the Baltimore Ravens. [28]

NFL statistics

Legend
Led the league
BoldCareer-high
Regular season statistics
YearTeamGamesReceivingRushingKick & punt returnsFumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDRetYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2019 NO 1416244.01304317.81006098216.453T131
2020 NO 92201869.34016518.52303364319.575031
2021 NO 1313657015.87235418.22205088917.839021
2022 NO 402136.590-----914516.133000
2023 BUF 1611515010.0431400.0402733012.296T122
Career 5657994311.9725191236.52301792,98916.796T2105
Postseason statistics
YearTeamGamesReceivingRushingKick & punt returnsFumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDRetYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2019 NO 1115050.0500-----817722.154000
2020 NO 2188210.32401-2-2.0-2058316.654000
2023 BUF 2023718.5340-----12727.027000
Career 521116915.45001-2-2.0-201428720.554000

On July 16, 2021, Harty was arrested in Towson, Maryland on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was cited for negligent driving, reckless driving, failure to obey traffic control device instructions, and exceeding the speed limit after driving erratically and going 77 mph in a 55 mph zone. [29]

In December 2021, Deonte Harris legally changed his name to Deonte Harty to honor his stepfather. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Smith Sr.</span> American football player and broadcaster (born 1979)

Stevonne Latrall Smith Sr., primarily known during his playing career as just Steve Smith, is an American sportscaster and former professional football player. Smith was a wide receiver for sixteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Carolina Panthers, also playing for the Baltimore Ravens. He played college football for the Utah Utes, and was selected by the Panthers in the third round of the 2001 NFL draft. After retiring from the NFL, Smith became a sports analyst and show host for NFL Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris McAlister</span> American football player (born 1977)

Christopher James McAlister is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats, earning unanimous All-American honors. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft, and played for the Ravens for 10 seasons before playing his final season with the New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Ginn Jr.</span> American football player (born 1985)

Theodore Ginn Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears.

Skyler Levon Green is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints. He also was a member of the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers, earning All-American honors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 New Orleans Saints season</span> NFL team season

The 2006 season was the New Orleans Saints' 40th in the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeSean Jackson</span> American football player and coach (born 1986)

DeSean William Jackson is an American college football coach and former player who is the head football coach at Delaware State University. He played college football as a wide receiver for the California Golden Bears, where he was recognized as a two-time, first-team All-American in 2006 and 2007. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft, and also played for the Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, and Baltimore Ravens. Jackson was selected to the Pro Bowl three times, and was the first player selected to the Pro Bowl at two different positions in the same year when he was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl as a wide receiver and return specialist. After retiring as a player, Jackson pursued a coaching career. Near the end of the 2024 season, Jackson was named the head football coach at Delaware State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Moore</span> American football player (born 1983)

Lance Andrew Moore is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Toledo Rockets. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2005. Moore joined the New Orleans Saints in 2006 and played with them for eight seasons, and was a member of the 2009 Super Bowl championship team that beat the Indianapolis Colts. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions.

Tyrone Christopher Hughes is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Tate</span> American football player (born 1987)

Brandon Tate is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwayne Harris</span> American football player (born 1987)

Dwayne Lenard Harris is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tavon Austin</span> American football player (born 1990)

Tavon Wesley Austin is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, receiving first-team All-American honors twice and was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deonte Thompson</span> American football player (born 1989)

Deonte Thompson is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at the University of Florida, where he was a member of a BCS National Championship team. Thompson was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamison Crowder</span> American football player (born 1993)

Jamison Crowder is an American professional football wide receiver and punt returner for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Duke Blue Devils and was drafted by Washington in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. Crowder has also played for the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Breaston</span> American football player (born 1983)

Steven William Breaston is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football at the University of Michigan and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwayne Washington (American football)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Dwayne Washington is an American professional football running back. He played college football for the Washington Huskies. He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft.

Tommylee Lewis is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. He played college football at Northern Illinois and signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamal Agnew</span> American football player (born 1995)

Jamal Agnew is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the San Diego Toreros. On September 26, 2021, he tied the NFL record for the longest play with a 109 yard return off a missed field goal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dante Pettis</span> American football player (born 1995)

Dante Garrison Pettis is an American professional football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynn Bowden</span> American football player (born 1997)

Lynn Bowden Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats where he was the team's starting quarterback for seven games as a junior and was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. He has played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New Orleans Saints.

The National Football League playoffs for the 2020 season began with the Wildcard Round on January 9, 2021, and concluded with Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on February 7, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9. This marked the first time a team has played the Super Bowl at their home field, as the Buccaneers reached the title game after winning three playoff games on the road.

References

  1. 1 2 Sigler, John (December 25, 2021). "Deonte Harris changes his legal name to honor his stepfather". USA Today . Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  2. "Boys Athlete of the Week (Oct. 14): Deonte Harris, Archbishop Curley". baltimoresun.com. October 14, 2014.
  3. "Curley Football's Deonte Harris (2014 Varsity Sports Network's Offensive Player of the Year)". YouTube.com.
  4. 1 2 3 "Deonte Harris". assumption.prestosports.com.
  5. 1 2 3 "The first team offense". Baltimoresun.com.
  6. "Friars 28 Dons 0". MaxPreps.com.
  7. "Deonte Harris, Assumption, WR, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  8. Toland, Jennifer (April 27, 2019). "Assumption's Deonte Harris signs with New Orleans". Telegram.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  9. Johnson, Luke (August 12, 2019). "Too short, small school, injury — no matter. Saints return man Deonte Harris working to overcome obstacles". Daily Advertiser. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  10. "Analyzing the Film on Deonte Harris' Punt Return TD vs Jets, Expert Analysis, New Orleans Saints". Youtube.com. August 26, 2019.
  11. Just, Amie (August 25, 2019). "Saints rookie Deonte Harris goes 'off to the races' against Jets with return touchdown". NOLA.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  12. Toland, Jennifer (September 5, 2019). "Former Assumption star Deonte Harris is ready to debut under Monday night lights". Telegram.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  13. Sigler, John (September 22, 2019). "Deonte Harris gets Saints on the board early with 53-yard punt return TD". Saints Wire. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  14. Just, Amie (December 17, 2019). "7 Saints named to 2020 Pro Bowl roster, including undrafted rookie Deonte Harris". nola.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  15. "2019 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  16. Just, Amie (August 14, 2020). "Saints place All-Pro returner Deonte Harris on reserve/COVID-19 list". NOLA.com. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  17. Gantt, Darin (August 16, 2020). "Saints activate Deonte Harris from COVID-19 list". NBCSports.com. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  18. "Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – October 25th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  19. "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. December 19, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  20. Alper, Josh (January 9, 2021). "Saints activate Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas". NBCSports.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  21. Rapoport, Ian (November 26, 2021). "Saints WR Deonte Harris appealing three-game suspension for DUI arrest". NFL.com. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  22. Simmons, Myles (March 14, 2022). "Saints tender Deonte Harty at second-round level". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  23. "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. October 15, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  24. Glab, Maddy (March 16, 2023). "Wide receiver and return specialist Deonte Harty signs a two-year deal with the Bills". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  25. Bronstein, Jonah (January 10, 2024). "Deonte Harty displayed special talent at opportune time for Bills". News 4 Buffalo. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  26. "Bills' Deonte Harty named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week". wgrz.com. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  27. White, Alec; Glab, Maddy (March 6, 2024). "Buffalo Bills release five players including Jordan Poyer, Mitch Morse and Siran Neal". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  28. Mink, Ryan (April 14, 2024). "Ravens Sign Receiver/Returner Deonte Harty". Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  29. Just, Amie (July 29, 2021). "Saints WR Deonte Harris arrested on suspicion of DUI near Baltimore; 2-game suspension possible". NOLA.com. Retrieved January 31, 2023.