Only a handful of the nation's best high school football players finish the cycle out with five-star rankings. As Rivals.com begins to evaluate the top talent in the 2022 class, the national analyst team has selected 10 rising juniors to debut as five-star prospects.
Today's five-star spotlight is on Galena Park (Texas) North Shore cornerback Denver Harris.
RIVALS 2022 CLASS RELEASE: The first 20 of the top 100
FIVE-STAR SPOTLIGHT: Julian Armella
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JUST THE FACTS
Attributes: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, 4.39 40-time (June 2019)
Top schools: Offers from LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Florida State, Miami, Tennessee, Texas A&M.
Scouting report: Harris is a long, speedy, technically sound defensive back prospect that started as a sophomore for two-time defending Class 6A state champion North Shore High School outside of Houston. Harris played outside cornerback and is gifted in coverage with exceptional short-area quickness to jump routes. He has the ability to play man-to-man without being too physical with receivers. He makes clean plays for the ball in the air and has a unique speed advantage with his 4.39-second 40.
Harris defies the stereotypes of cornerbacks not being physical against the run. He has a nose for the football and is a sure tackler with big-play potential. He will make ball-carriers pay in the open field.
ANALYST'S TAKE
Tennessee was the first to offer Harris last spring during the evaluation period, but programs all across the country were tuned in to see the young defensive back move around the field last year. He made visits to Tennessee, LSU, Alabama, Texas and Texas A&M to camp and impressed along the way, including a verified 4.39-second 40 time in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Harris was able to shadow receivers in multiple camp settings last summer, at Prime 21 and was arguably North Shore's best defensive player in a season-opening loss to local powerhouse Katy last August. In his first varsity season, Harris proved his ability to cover, make momentum-changing plays and contribute in the run game.
ODDS AND ENDS
Harris' position coach is Theadis Reagins, who helped coach Anthony Cook, D'Shawn Jamison and Grant Delpit in the past. North Shore has produced elite national prospects such as five-star Zachary Evans (unsigned), K'Lavon Chaisson (LSU), Eric Monroe (LSU), Damieon George (Alabama) and Corey Flagg Jr. (Miami) in the past.
