Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 5 Days (J-Shun Harris)

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Written By Alex Compton

#5

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kick-off is nearly complete! There are now just 5 days until the Indiana Hoosiers kick-off the 2017 season against the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes. Today’s countdown takes a look at one of IU’s fastest players: J-Shun Harris II.

J-SHUN HARRIS II

-Height: 5'8”
-Weight: 170 pounds
-Hometown: Fishers, Indiana
-Position: Wide Receiver

One of the most intriguing players on this IU roster is someone that hasn’t played in two seasons, and that man is #5, J-Shun Harris. After bursting onto the season as a true freshman in 2014, he missed the following two years after tearing his ACL in both of them. He received a medical redshirt in 2015, and has two years left to play for the Hoosiers. Harris was supposed to be Shane Wynn 2.0, a perfect replacement for IU’s speedy do-it-all slot receiver following his senior year in 2014. Harris showed flashes of an All-B10 player in his true freshman year, and one has to wonder how different this article would be had he not been injured the last two seasons. He played in all 12 games in a year that saw Nate Sudfeld go down with injury, and still ended up 3rd on the team in receiving yards and 4th in catches. You may remember his 33 yard score in a road SEC win against Missouri, or his seven catches for 68 yards and a score in the game against Bowling Green. Harris finished that year with 18 catches for 168 yards and two scores, and as one of IU’s top kick and punt returns. The future was bright, until injury kept him off the field until this year. 

While injuries are unfortunate, the good news for Harris and IU fans alike is that he is healthy again and ready to contribute. He checked in as the #2 slot receiver on yesterday’s depth chart behind Luke Timian but ahead of true freshman Whop Philyor and redshirt freshman Isaac James. If Harris can stay on the field, he immediately projects as one of Indiana’s top weapons. With so much attention being placed outside on Simmie Cobbs, Donavan Hale and Nick Westbrook, a speedy guy that can beat safeties at a moment’s notice will certainly have the chance to make some game-breaking plays. That’s exactly what Harris brings to the table, and his speed alone makes him a guy that has to be on the field for IU if healthy. Read up on his Indiana high school accomplishments below courtesy of IUHoosiers.com: 

"Wide receiver for head coach Rick Wimmer at Fishers High School ... Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 and all-state as a senior ... Indiana Associated Press Class 6A All-State ... two-time first team All-Hamilton County selection ... holds Fishers career records for receptions (133), receiving yardage (2,032), touchdown catches (17), punt returns (40), punt return yardage (768), punt return average (19.2) and punt return TDs (5) ... 2013 team captain made 62 receptions for 1,027 yards (16.6) with eight scores en route to all-conference honors ... also returned 13 punts for 318 yards (24.5) and two touchdowns ... set school single-season records for catches, receiving yardage, punt returns, punt return yardage and punt return average ... Fishers won the 2010 Indiana Class 5A state championship and claimed conference titles in 2010 and 2013 ... rated the No. 13 prospect in Indiana by Rivals ... four-year football and four-year track and field letter winner”