![]() Harris in the 2007 Hawaii Bowl | |||||||||||||
No. 17, 82 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Wide receiver Return specialist | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | September 16, 1987||||||||||||
Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Tucker (Tucker, Georgia) | ||||||||||||
College: | East Carolina | ||||||||||||
NFL draft: | 2011 / Round: 6 / Pick: 176 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Player stats at PFR |
Dwayne Lenard Harris (born September 16, 1987) 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.
Harris played quarterback for the football team at Tucker High School in Tucker, Georgia. [1] He was considered one of the best quarterbacks in the southeast by Prep Star Magazine.[ citation needed ] He was a 4A All-State selection, leading Tucker to a 10–1 record his senior year.
As a redshirt freshman, he played in all 13 games and was named to the conference's all freshmen team as a punt returner. East Carolina University won the 2007 Hawaii Bowl against Boise State on a team that also featured future NFL running back, Chris Johnson. [2] As a sophomore, he played in 10 games before injuring his foot playing against Southern Miss. Regardless of his injury, East Carolina University won the 2008 Conference USA Championship against Tulsa. [3]
In his junior year, he was named to the Conference USA first-team and as the C-USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Year. He played in all 14 games, including a victory against Houston in the 2009 C-USA Championship and a loss to Arkansas in the 2010 Liberty Bowl. [4] [5] In his senior year, Harris played in all 13 games and won the C-USA MVP award. The Pirates lost to Maryland in the 2010 Military Bowl. [6]
He finished his college career with school records for receptions (268) and receiving yards (3,001). He was the first player in school history to top 100 receptions in a season (101 as a senior) and the second player to gain over 6,000 career all-purpose yards (6,380). He is second in school history with 102 kickoff returns for 2,374 yards. [7]
Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Receiving | Rushing | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||||||
2007 | East Carolina | CUSA | FR | WR | 13 | 26 | 246 | 9.5 | 2 | 20 | 197 | 9.9 | 1 |
2008 | East Carolina | CUSA | SO | WR | 10 | 58 | 654 | 11.3 | 1 | 19 | 76 | 4.0 | 0 |
2009 | East Carolina | CUSA | JR | WR | 14 | 83 | 978 | 11.8 | 7 | 31 | 149 | 4.8 | 5 |
2010 | East Carolina | CUSA | SR | WR | 13 | 101 | 1,123 | 11.1 | 10 | 16 | 104 | 6.5 | 0 |
Career | East Carolina | 50 | 268 | 3,001 | 11.2 | 20 | 86 | 526 | 6.1 | 6 |
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 ft 10+3⁄8 in (1.79 m) | 203 lb (92 kg) | 31+1⁄8 in (0.79 m) | 10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m) | 4.51 s | 1.75 s | 2.55 s | 4.21 s | 6.77 s | 34.0 in (0.86 m) | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) | 10 reps | |
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [8] [9] |
Harris was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round with the 176th overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. [10] In his first career pre-season appearance, he had a great performance against the Denver Broncos, recording five receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns (including a 76-yard touchdown reception), in just two quarters of work. Unfortunately, his first year was mostly a disappointment, with the Cowboys releasing him on October 18 and signing him to their practice squad. He eventually was signed back to the active roster on December 14. As a rookie, he appeared in just seven games, returning 15 punts for 80 yards. [11]
In 2012, he had his first career punt return for a touchdown during a Week 10 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. [12] His 78-yard return broke a fourth-quarter tie and earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. [13] His impact as a returner in special teams convinced the coaching staff to give him more opportunities at wide receiver. Despite being active all season, it was not until week 12 against the Washington Redskins on Thanksgiving that he started to produce as a receiver, catching four passes for 71 yards. [14] He finished second in the NFL in punt return average (16.1 yards). [15] [16]
In 2013, Harris started to be used as a gunner on special teams and in the opening game against the New York Giants, his three coverage tackles and his effort in forcing one of the Giants’ six turnovers, earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. [17] He was again named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, after his Week 6 performance against the Washington Redskins. [18] He registered 222 total return yards which outgained the Cowboys’ offense by nine yards, including an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 90-yard kickoff return. [19] [20] He also became the third player (Chris Boniol and Billy Cundiff were the first) in team history to win the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week two times in a season. [21] Although he was injured in three of the last four games of the season, he tied for second on the team with 12 special teams tackles, finished ranked third in punt return average (12.8) and second in kick return average (30.6) in the NFL. As a wide receiver he had nine receptions for 80 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner against the Minnesota Vikings. [22] [23]
In 2014, he led the team with 18 special teams tackles, but all of his other stats dropped off from the previous year. The team struggled in the return game and he was rarely targeted as the fourth wide receiver. [24]
Harris left as the franchise's all-time leader on kickoff returns with a 26.5-yard career average and a single-season 30.6-yard average in 2013. He finished tied for second with an 11.1-yard career punt return average. He is considered to be one of the best special teams players in Dallas Cowboys history. [25]
On March 10, 2015, he signed a five-year, $17 million contract with the New York Giants as an unrestricted free agent. The deal included $7.1 million guaranteed with a $4 million signing bonus. [26] [27] Although he was acquired to serve primarily as a return man on special teams, he passed Preston Parker on the depth chart as the slot wide receiver, before injuries to the receivers corp forced him to start six games during the season. Against the Buffalo Bills he recorded five receptions for 51 yards and one touchdown. [28] In the next contest, he had a career-high six receptions for 72 yards in a win over the San Francisco 49ers. [29] On October 25, he returned a fourth quarter kickoff 100 yards (tied a team record) for the deciding touchdown against his former team, as the Giants defeated the Cowboys, 27–20. [30] For his efforts, he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. [31] On December 6, he returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown in a 23–20 overtime loss to the New York Jets, becoming the first player in franchise history to have a punt return, a kickoff return and a reception go for touchdowns in a single-season. [32] [33] He recorded six receptions for 82 yards and one touchdown, in a loss against the New England Patriots. [34] He was declared inactive for the last game with a shoulder injury, finishing with career-highs in receptions (36), receiving yards (396) and receiving touchdowns (four). [35] He finished third in the league with a 28.7-yard kick return average and seventh with a 10.0-yard punt return average.
In 2016, at times he was taken off returns because of struggles with ball security and sometimes questionable decision-making. He still finished fifth in the league in kick return average (24.2 yards) and had a 5.9 yards punt return average. He posted 7 special teams tackles. He had one touchdown in his only reception of the season, that came in a week 12 win against the Cleveland Browns. [36] He was also named to his first Pro Bowl. [37]
On March 21, 2017, he restructured his contract after the Giants signed free agent wide receiver Brandon Marshall. [38] In Week 5 of the 2017 season, Harris suffered a foot fracture which required surgery, and was placed on injured reserve on October 9, 2017. [39] He appeared in five games and had nine kickoff returns for 188 net yards for a 20.88 average and seven punt returns for 48 net yards for a 6.86 average. [40]
On March 22, 2018, Harris was released by the Giants. [41]
On April 2, 2018, Harris signed with the Oakland Raiders. [42] He was named the Raiders primary kick and punt returner to start the 2018 season. In Week 4, Harris returned five kicks for an average of 19.5 yards, including a 49-yard punt return in a 45–42 win over the Cleveland Browns, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. [43] On December 24, in Week 16, he returned a punt 99 yards for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos, earning him another AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. [44] The 99-yard return was the second longest punt return in NFL history. [45] He finished the season with 29 kickoff returns for 663 net yards for a 22.86 average to go along with 20 punt returns for 281 net yards for a 14.05 average. [46]
On March 18, 2019, Harris re-signed with the Raiders. [47] He was placed on injured reserve on November 18, 2019. [48]
After becoming a free agent in March 2020, Harris had a tryout with the Baltimore Ravens on August 18, 2020. [49]
On September 21, 2020, Harris was signed to the Houston Texans practice squad. [50] He was released on October 12. [51]
On October 27, 2020, Harris was signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad. [52] He was elevated to the active roster four days later ahead of the Bears' week 8 game against the New Orleans Saints, and reverted to the practice squad after the game. [53] He was then promoted to the active roster on November 7 to take over as the primary return specialist. [54] In the Bears' week 10 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Harris tore his triceps after he muffed a punt and attempted to recover it. [55] Harris was placed on injured reserve on November 19. [56]
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Returning | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
2011 | DAL | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 311 | 13.5 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2012 | DAL | 16 | 0 | 17 | 222 | 13.1 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 564 | 17.1 | 78 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
2013 | DAL | 13 | 3 | 9 | 80 | 8.9 | 24T | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 | 48 | 1,113 | 23.2 | 90 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
2014 | DAL | 16 | 0 | 7 | 116 | 16.6 | 56 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 1.8 | 9 | 0 | 60 | 1,017 | 17.0 | 42 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
2015 | NYG | 15 | 6 | 36 | 396 | 11.0 | 38 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 6.0 | 11 | 0 | 56 | 972 | 17.4 | 100T | 2 | 3 | 0 |
2016 | NYG | 16 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 13T | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 703 | 13.8 | 51 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
2017 | NYG | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 236 | 14.8 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | OAK | 15 | 1 | 6 | 40 | 6.7 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 2.0 | 13 | 0 | 49 | 996 | 19.2 | 99T | 1 | 2 | 0 |
2019 | OAK | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 169 | 21.1 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2020 | CHI | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 81 | 8.1 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Career | 109 | 12 | 77 | 874 | 11.4 | 56 | 8 | 9 | 37 | 4.1 | 13 | 0 | 353 | 6,110 | 17.6 | 100T | 5 | 16 | 5 |
Allen Bonshaca Lamont Rossum is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft.
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.
DeSean William Jackson is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football 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.
Roderick World Harris is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles. He also was a member of the Sacramento Gold Miners, Shreveport Pirates, Saskatchewan Roughriders and BC Lions in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Texas A&M University.
Eric Grimes Weems is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver, special teamer, and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He also played for the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans.
Desmond Demond Bryant is an American former professional football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, earning consensus All-American honors in 2008. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, where he earned three Pro Bowl berths and was named an All-Pro in 2014.
Randall Ladonald Cobb II is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats, earning All-American honors in 2010. Cobb was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. He also played one season each for the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and New York Jets.
Andre McXavier Roberts is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. He played college football for The Citadel Bulldogs and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft. Roberts has played for nine teams in his NFL career; in addition to the Cardinals, he has played for the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, and Carolina Panthers.
Tavon Wesley Austin is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, receiving first-team All-American honors twice. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft.
Cole Dickson Beasley is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Southern Methodist University and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He also played three seasons for the Buffalo Bills before retiring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. He came out of retirement a few months later in the season to re-sign with the Bills.
Terrance Tyrone Williams is an American football wide receiver for the Galgos de Tijuana of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA). He played college football for the Baylor Bears, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2012. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and played six seasons with the Cowboys.
Cordarrelle Patterson, nicknamed "Flash", is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). A versatile utility player, he plays running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and occasionally on defense. Patterson played college football for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons before transferring to the Tennessee Volunteers, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and the Atlanta Falcons.
Jamison Wesley Crowder is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Duke, and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. Crowder has also played for the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.
Rodney Darnell "Lucky" Whitehead Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver, who is currently a free agent. He played high school football at Osbourn High School in Manassas, Virginia. He played college football at Florida Atlantic, and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He has also been a member of the New York Jets and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Ryan Switzer is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and punt returner in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, twice earning first-team All-American honors. Switzer was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was also a member of the Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns.
Michael Gallup is an American football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Butler Community College before transferring to Colorado State, where he was a consensus All-American in 2017. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft.
Cedrick Wilson Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boise State.
Cedarian DeLeon "CeeDee" Lamb is an American football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma where he was a consensus All-American in 2019, and was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Tony Randall Pollard is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Memphis, and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft.
KaVontae Lamon Turpin is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at TCU.