Macho Harris
Encyclopedia
Victor "Macho" Harris, jr (born February 16, 1986) is an American football
free agent safety of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Virginia Tech
.
He has also played for the Washington Redskins
and the Pittsburgh Steelers
.
in the east end of Henrico, Virginia.
' number one cornerback
, playing the boundary position. During his junior year, he was a first team all-ACC selection. He had five career touchdowns with Virginia Tech including a 72-yard interception return against in 2006, a 100 yard kickoff return against Clemson
, an interception return against ECU in 2007 as well as an interception return against Boston College and Duke in 2008. Harris had 15 career interceptions at Virginia Tech. He previously had announced his intentions to leave early and enter the 2008 NFL Draft
, but subsequently reversed himself.
, and 6.68 seconds in the 3 cone drill
. His time in the 20 yard shuttle was the second best among cornerbacks, and his time in the 3 cone drill tied for second.
by the Philadelphia Eagles
in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft
. He opened the 2009 NFL regular season as the starting
free safety, beating out Quintin Demps
for the job. He was eventually replaced in the starting lineup by Sean Jones
. However, the two split the majority of the playing time, and Harris eventually took back the starting position for final two games of the season: against the Dallas Cowboys
in week 17 and in the NFC Wild Card Round playoff game.
was not re-signed in the offseason, Harris was projected to compete for the starting free safety job with Marlin Jackson
, Quintin Demps
, and rookie Nate Allen
. For the team's preseason mini-camps, however, he took snaps from the cornerback position, the position he played in college. Due to the performance of rookie cornerback Trevard Lindley
in the first three preseason games, Harris was switched back to free safety. Harris was waived on September 4.
on November 23, 2010. After playing in three games in 2010, he was waived on July 30, 2011.
. He waived for final cuts on September 2, 2011.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
free agent safety of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
.
He has also played for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
and the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
.
Early years
Harris was a standout at Highland Springs High SchoolHighland Springs High School
Highland Springs High School is a high school located at 15 South Oak Avenue in Highland Springs, Virginia. First opened in 1907, it is among the oldest schools in Henrico County/Richmond, Virginia...
in the east end of Henrico, Virginia.
College career
Harris started as the Virginia Tech HokiesVirginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
' number one cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
, playing the boundary position. During his junior year, he was a first team all-ACC selection. He had five career touchdowns with Virginia Tech including a 72-yard interception return against in 2006, a 100 yard kickoff return against Clemson
2007 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2007 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2007 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Tommy Bowden and played their home games in Memorial Stadium.- Notable :...
, an interception return against ECU in 2007 as well as an interception return against Boston College and Duke in 2008. Harris had 15 career interceptions at Virginia Tech. He previously had announced his intentions to leave early and enter the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
, but subsequently reversed himself.
Pre-draft
At the 2009 NFL Combine, Harris recorded 3.98 seconds in the 20 yard shuttle20 yard shuttle
The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting...
, and 6.68 seconds in the 3 cone drill
3 cone drill
The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting...
. His time in the 20 yard shuttle was the second best among cornerbacks, and his time in the 3 cone drill tied for second.
2009 season
Harris was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. He opened the 2009 NFL regular season as the starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
free safety, beating out Quintin Demps
Quintin Demps
Quintin Lamon Demps is an American football safety for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas-El Paso....
for the job. He was eventually replaced in the starting lineup by Sean Jones
Sean Jones (safety)
Sean Jones is an American football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia.-Early years:Jones attended Westlake High School where he played both as a...
. However, the two split the majority of the playing time, and Harris eventually took back the starting position for final two games of the season: against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in week 17 and in the NFC Wild Card Round playoff game.
2010 season
Because Sean JonesSean Jones (safety)
Sean Jones is an American football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia.-Early years:Jones attended Westlake High School where he played both as a...
was not re-signed in the offseason, Harris was projected to compete for the starting free safety job with Marlin Jackson
Marlin Jackson
-Indianapolis Colts:Jackson was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 29th overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft. As an NFL rookie he had 52 tackles and one interception. Marlin played mostly in passing situations with one start in 15 games. In his second season, he had 82 tackles and 1...
, Quintin Demps
Quintin Demps
Quintin Lamon Demps is an American football safety for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas-El Paso....
, and rookie Nate Allen
Nate Allen (safety)
-Philadelphia Eagles:Allen was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round in the 2010 NFL Draft. After Marlin Jackson suffered an Achilles tendon rupture during organized team activities, Allen was named the starting free safety going into training camp, replacing the 2009 starter,...
. For the team's preseason mini-camps, however, he took snaps from the cornerback position, the position he played in college. Due to the performance of rookie cornerback Trevard Lindley
Trevard Lindley
Trevard Lindley is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
in the first three preseason games, Harris was switched back to free safety. Harris was waived on September 4.
Washington Redskins
Harris was signed by the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
on November 23, 2010. After playing in three games in 2010, he was waived on July 30, 2011.
Pittsburgh Steelers
On August 17, 2011, Harris signed with the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. He waived for final cuts on September 2, 2011.