IU WR J-Shun Harris Named a Witten Award Semi-Finalist
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J-Shun Harris has had an impact on and off the field for IU in 2018 Image: Sarah Miller Hoosier Huddle
IU Athletics Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana fifth-year senior J-Shun Harris II is one of 20 semifinalists for the second annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, it was announced today.
Compiled by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee, the semifinalists have all demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
Three finalists will be named for the award on Monday, Dec. 10. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony on Feb. 12, 2018, at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
The award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. Leadership is a term synonymous with Jason Witten, who, in addition to becoming one of the best tight ends in the history of the sport and the Cowboys' all-time leading receiver, served as one of football's most prominent role models during his 15-year pro career. In addition to winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012, Witten also received the Bart Starr Award, Pro Football Weekly's Humanitarian of the Year Award, Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and the Bob Lilly Award, among many others. All of those honors have recognized his work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.
"I am honored to announce this impressive group as the semifinalists for the second annual Collegiate Man of the Year," said Witten. "All of these student-athletes are shining examples of what makes college athletics so great. These 20 men have demonstrated exceptional character and leadership, often while overcoming large challenges. They are great representatives for the game of football, and I commend all nominees for getting to this point."
Harris, also a nominee for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, has returned from his third ACL injury (right), which he sustained in game eight at Maryland last year. He came back to action in 2017 after he tore his right ACL during 2015 summer workouts and his left ACL in 2016 preseason camp.
The Fishers, Ind., native matched IU's program record with his third punt return touchdown against Ball State this season, an 86-yarder, en route to his third career Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week accolade. His 10.6 return average leads the conference (22nd nationally), while his 148 punt return yards are third (35th).
On the offensive side of the ball, Harris is second on the team with 34 receptions for 303 yards (5th) and two touchdowns (T-3rd).
Harris graduated with a SPEA management degree in May 2018 and is on the team's leadership council. He is one of the most active Hoosiers in the community, participating in work with the IUFB Youth Clinic, the MLK Luncheon, Read Across America, Camp Riley and the Ellettsville Boys & Girls Club Youth Clinic, among others.
The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school's athletic scholarship fund. The contribution will be made by Jason Witten's SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle. The SCORE Foundation, founded in 2007, has positively impacted tens of thousands of children and families in Texas and Tennessee over the last 10 years. The foundation operates its nationally-recognized SCOREkeepers program, which places trained male mentors on staff to work with children at family violence shelters, at nine shelters in the two states. SCORE has also operated a weekend food backpack program for disadvantaged children in North Texas, opened Jason Witten Learning Centers in five different Boys & Girls Clubs and opened the Jason and Michelle Witten Emergency Waiting Room at the Niswonger Children's Hospital in Johnson City, Tenn.