Kelvin Taylor was just scratching the surface.
If you dig deeper into the 2013 Gator legacy, you will eventually reach Mud.
But this is the kind you want to get your hands on if you’re a Florida fan.
Meet Marcell Harris, a 6-foot-2, 205-pounder out of Orlando.
The four-star safety is the son of former Gator Mike ‘Mud’ Harris, who played free safety for UF from 1994-1997. The elder Harris is from Gainesville (Buchholz) and earned his nickname because he was “awful” at basketball.
Football, however, was a different story. Harris was part of the 1996 National Championship team and on three SEC title teams during his time at Florida. He was one of its hardest hitters in the secondary.
Marcell has inherited his dad’s head-hunting ways.
A member of both the Rivals100 and ESPNU 150 watch list, the younger Harris has earned the reputation as a physical tackler with a frame resembling an outside linebacker.
That’s made him a priority for UF defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson, despite having two safeties already committed.
“Coach T-Rob tells me I’m still one of their top targets and that they need me,” Harris said. “He said my skills are perfect for the defense they run.”
Harris has visited Gainesville numerous times, with his most recent trip Florida’s Feb. 18 Junior Day. The event yielded six commitments for the Gators, most notably Belle Glade running back Kelvin Taylor (son of Gator great Fred Taylor).
Their fathers spent all four years at UF together, and now they have a chance to follow that trend.
“That would be good to see that happen,” Harris said of joining Taylor. “Two Gator commits whose dads played there together. That’s always a dream for a football dad — having his son play for the same school. I think we would like it.”
But if Harris ends up at Florida, it won’t be because of the Gator legacy. The Dr. Phillips prospect lives with his mother, and her influence appears to hold much more weight than that of his father.
“My mom is really the one that I talk to about everything,” Harris said. “She’s played a big role in my life as far as taking care of me and bringing me to all my football games. She’s right there on the sideline cheering me on and telling me what I did wrong when I come off the field. So most of the time I go to her for advice and she gives me all the answers and keeps my head focused.”
Harris will be searching for a lot of answers this summer. He plans to attend several camps and narrow his list of schools to a top five, which he knows will include UF.
“I just love the tradition at Florida,” Harris said. “A lot of great players have come through there and a lot of good recruits are getting signed now, so hopefully they can turn it around. And it’s the hometown for my family, so being in the area would be a big plus if I went.”
With 10 commits this early, we’re not going to be able sign everyone we want. I want Harris too, but 3 safeties? We already seem to be on pace with a hundred offers to OL and LB/Buck recruits. 20-22 schollies seems to be the number this year……. we’ve already used half and no OL or deep threat play maker as of yet.
Come on down Harris and be part of the next title run!
Harris is too good a player to pass up, irregardless of the other two safeties. Good athletes possibly can maybe switch positions, play multiple roles. Has Harris seen any action on the offensive side of the ball? What about his growth potential as linebacker? Florida needs to continue the family legacy’s when possible with 4 and 5 star athletes. Marcell, Go Gators.
Attrition will play a role. We won;t keep every one of these commits by NSD next year. Hearnes from Tally/Lincoln still hasn’t gotten the full-court from the FSU boosters who will stay in his ear for the duration and Dillan lawson is a flight risk because if Bama offered him, he’s probably gone. There’s always plenty of room. That said, expect about 6 OL and 3 – 4 WR’s, 1 more RB, and after that, there’s room left.
Keep in mind that Washington will play some corner too, and Keanu Neal may bump down to linebacker.
“irregardless”?
I agree with scooterp and gogator. 3 safeties…but Harris’ future looks to bright to pass up. But, it just seems like we continue to stock pile defense. Our defense wasn’t the issue. I mean I love depth at all positions, but WR, RB, QB…got to target some of these guys. It’s almost a lock that brissett or driskel will transfer depending on who loses the job. Again, I’m not bashing at all. I really like Muschamp and what he’s doing. But, the offense is dredful!
Gonna get whipped by the girls school in tallahassee again this year.
Jeff Driskel or Jacoby Brissett vs. FSU’s 2012 defense.
That’s like comedy central on ESPN.
Like I said, gonna get whooped by the girls school YET AGAIN.
——>>>
Are you sure your name isn’t “Jackie Girl”?
hey “jacky off boy”, go jacky somewhere else. at least you got the girls school part right. Guessing you went there.
Florida will get a few players. We need to start looking like winners before we can expect to draw top talent. OL and WR’s are needed, however, take as many great defenders away from LSU, BAMA and NOLES as we can. Offensive players will always want to play on great defensive teams. They know they will get the ball back quite often and have plenty of chance to shine in new OC Pease’s system. Just wait 1 more year and see…..GO GATORS
Yeah, because that 94 yard a game FSU offense looks so scary. Let FSU try 4 different OC’s in the last 5 years and tell us how good their offense would be. Interestingly enough, I don’t notice FSU’s staff getting raided for several assistants at a time like Uf’s has been the last four years. Wonder why? Oh wait, FSU’s offense still sucks even with the same guy there running it for the last five years. lol
What’s pathetic is that you lost by 14 to a team that had 95 yards of total offense and like a gazillion penalities. Now that is pathetic.
FSU will be fielding a world-class defense this year.
Aren’t you excited to see Brissett or Driskel play against that? Just think of how comical it will be.
jacky, first of thats the same name my female cousin has, secon when was the last time fsu even won the acc, OH OKAY!! sorry azz fsu fan coming over here with nohing productive to say. go hop back on the criminole forum with the rest of them slobs
“irregardless” is not a word
I think it is funny that if you say something negative about the Gainesville Sun, or one of its articles or writers, even if its constructive criticism, and they remove your post. However, they let trolls like this moron criminole fan come on here and act like a 5 year old child. Wow.
I would not expect to get many borderline recruits on offense until they have had a chance to see how we look in 2012. The obvious ones who really want to be Gators like Taylor will commit early, but the success of Pease this coming year will determine if we get the big time play makers. Expecting to be great on D, but we need a good showing from our O
UF, you keep getting beat by girly schools. What’s up with that? FSU has no law school, no medical school, and no business program. It’s just a girls school with a dance program. Why can’t you beat them in football? it doesn’t make any sense.
7 points against FSU’s pathetic defense? I mean, seriously. FSU has a bunch of girls on its defense. Why couldn’t we move the ball?
FSU (Girls School) 21 Florida 7
Don’t worry about the wr’s. Debose=deep threat,REED and lenard tightends who wouln’t want them. And you havn’t even met juwan story. But you will!!!AS for JACKY BOB get an O-line and get off our back,and they said your dfence would be awesome last year!!!!What is your offence going to do against our D-line. FLOYD will be back to DT this year along with Easily. Dont forget bullard on the end and powell at buck. Our safties will eat you up!!!!!!!! LOOKIN forward to TALLAFAGY. WIDE LEFT!!!!!!
Gogator2424:
FSU’s defense. Have sweet dreams about it. Have sweet, sweet dreams about UF lining up against FSU’s defense.
Our o-line will be fine. It just needs to get healthy.
One more time: your offense against our defense……LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
TO MY FSU BROTHERS:
THE LAST TWO YEARS (BASED ON TALENT AND SCHEDULE) FSU SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDEFEATED!!!!
YOUR OFF. & DEF. PLAYERS ARE VERY HIGHLY REGARDED. FSU SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDEFEATED LAST YEAR.
SOMETHING IS VERY VERY WRONG AT FSU!!!!!
IT IS NOT THE TALENT!!!
AS BAD AS UF HAS BEEN THE LAST TWO YEARS, AT LEAST WE WERE NOT EXPECTED TO BE GOOD BY ANYONE.
FSU ON THE OTHER HAND WAS BAD WHEN EXPECTED TO BE GREAT.
THAT HAS TO HURT!!!!!
LETS LOOK AT THIS YEAR:
3 WINS AGAINST VERY BAD NON CONFERENCE TEAMS.
TENN / KY / VANDY / MISSIORI / TEX AM LOOK TO BE GAMES WE SHOULD WIN.
LSU SHOULD BE A LOSS.
FSU / UG / USC / LOOK LIKE UNDERDOG GAMES, BUT WE WILL PLAY THEM AND SEE.
FSU SHOULD WIN EASILY, BUT THEY DO NOT EVER SEEM TO PLAY TO THEIR POTENTIAL.
SO IF WE WIN GAMES THAT WE ARE FAVORED THAT WOULD GET US 8 WINS.
GOING 1-3 AGAINST LSU / FSU / USC / UG IS POSSIBLE.
SO 9-3 FOR 2012-13.
I WILL BE VERY HAPPY WITH 9-3
HAPPY WITH TAYLOR, WILL BE HAPPY WITH HARRIS COMM
HELLO ZACH,
TELL ME ABOUT NEXT YEARS RECRUITS: INCLUDING
DE / NKEMDICHE, OL TUNSIL. DB HARGREAVES, LB THOMAS, DE BOCA, RB BRYANT, WR NORTH, DB MCQUAY, DT ADAMS, DB HARRIS, WR COLEY, WR FULWOOD, DB LIKELY, DT BOSTWICK, RB GREEN. THANKS
Gator Buck:
And you’re telling me that UF isn’t loaded with talent? Give me a break. You have just as many five-stars as we have. Don’t pull that lever. Urban left you guys tons of talent.
Jack
Jackie boy is FSU’s version of “Harvey Updyke”….kill any trees lately?
It must be sad to go into the football season knowing you are going to get crushed. What you fielded last year wasn’t a football team. It was a band of clowns. You shamelessly show up to watch a bunch of whimps play. How do you even show your face in front of your women? Your women go to these games to watch grown men play in a collision/contact sport, but you provide them with weak little boys who have no business on the gridiron. Your women get all dressed up in their Gator skirts and jewelry because they want to look pretty as smashing unfolds, but you guys provide them with weak little boys who cannot even pretend to look like football players.
What a joke. If you’re not a Gator, you’re Gator Bait…….Shut up. Just shut up. Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Jimbo Fisher (the list goes on and on) absolutely manhandled your weak and pathetic football team last year. It really was a joke all season long. I cannot tell you how many of my bachelor friends went to bed with your Gator women after the game last year. Their hotel in Gainesville was stacked with Gator women—orange and blue skirts everywhere. Yes, they were sleeping with real men who travel to watch GROWN MEN, not boys, play a violent and tough sport.
This run FSU is having is not going away any time soon—and you know it. Get used to being manhandled and mistreated by the Seminoles. Unlike you, we field men to play football for us.
WOWWW! You sound like a complete fool. Go back to the FSU boards and torture them with your nonsense. “our women”, what are you from the middle ages??? Serioulsy, who talks like that? I wouldn’t be surprised if you came to our forums bc FSU fans forced you off theirs…. Have a nice day 🙂
hahahahahaha! what clown this jack-off boy is! you’ve got a to be a comedian.
Maybe a new QB becomes part of the new offense next year, giving our sophs more time to develop their passing skills.
You’re right Jacky Boy, FSU lines up GROWN MEN to win national championships!! Wait, you mean they haven’t won one since 1999. Well, at least they line up GROWN MEN for ACC championships, that beast of a college football conference! Oh wait, you mean they haven’t won the ACC championship game since 2005. Well at least they line up GROWN MEN to dominate the atlantic division! Oh crap!! You mean they’ve only won the stacked atlantic conference twice since 2005 (the same number of times as that perennial college football stud Boston College). Maybe your GROWN MEN are actually a little less manly than you might believe. Keep living in your fantasy world while UF makes its climb back to the top of college football.
The only reason we sucked for ten years and you guys were good was because Bobby Bowden is the most selfish coach in football history. Urban never would have gotten those kids to come play at UF if Fisher had been head coach……anyway…..
If you don’t think we line up grown men in the Fisher era, let’s not forget that FSU dumped half your team off in the hospital a few months ago. Go ask them if we line up grown men–I’m sure they might say otherwise.
When is Chandler Register going to get a look or an offer?
You know what I think drives UF fans crazy? Your school is not even remotely sexy. FSU, on the other hand, is beyond sexy. It’s what made us (and Miami) so famous. When FSU is hot, everyone wants to play for us. When the Gators (how lame is that term?) are hot, yeah, kids want to play there, but there’s no swagger. It’s just a run-hrough-the-motions school Kids at FSU play with an attitude. You guys are just boring. Now you suck too. Before it was boring. Now you actually suck.
Hey Jacky Boy until FSU actually wins some recent NC’s again, I would not be beating my chest as where have the Nole’s been the last 10-12 years?
Enough Said!!!
Selfish Bobby Bowden is the only reason FSU was ever relevant in college football. I don’t think I’d be bad mouthing him if I were you. Anyway, you keep making excuses as to why you haven’t done anything in over a decade, and we’ll get back to actually getting things done (like winning national championships, do you remember what those are?).
Think Jacky boy’s still got a bad case of Tebow envy. I guess Timbo wasn’t cool, no swag huh??
driskull for hiseman
2 in a row.
And counting.
You guys are going to get SMASHED by Mark Stoops’s defense this year. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Can’t wait to see what useless, hopeless tailback you run against us. And boy I can’t wait to see Driscul or Brisett under center against our front seven.
Again: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO
Jacky Boy, you seem to be getting a little testy. Maybe you should get off the gators testes and figure out some more excuses as to why you can’t win college football’s best conference, the powerhouse ACC, much less remember the last time the semiholes were in the national championship picture. I look forward to more of your intelligent, though out arguments, so please keep them coming.
[…] said he formed a tight bond with Powell and Marcell Harris, a highly-touted safety and Gator legacy out of Orlando Dr. […]
[…] Orlando Dr. Phillips prospect, whose father played free safety for the Gators, likes that UF plays in a prestigious […]
How do you feel now, Jacky Boy?
Dominating performance by the Gators at Ron Zook Field, plus we sign this promising young prospect.
Meanwhile, the Noles are stuck on a sinking ACC ship.
Who’s back? BOOM! That’s who!
Boy was that comment premature. Let’s just pretend the Muschamp and Butters years never happened.