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Nick Harris (punter)

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Nick Harris
No. 8, 2, 5
Position:Punter
Personal information
Born: (1978-07-23) July 23, 1978 (age 46)
Avondale, Arizona, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:Westview (Avondale)
College:California
NFL draft:2001 / round: 4 / pick: 120
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Punts:943
Average punt:42.4
Longest punt:67
Punts inside 20:260
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Nicholas John Harris (born July 23, 1978) is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, setting the NCAA record for career punting yardage and earning consensus All-American honors. The Denver Broncos chose him in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL draft, and he has played professionally for the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers of the NFL.

Early life and education

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Harris was born in Avondale, Arizona. He attended Westview High School in Avondale, where he played for the Westview Knights high school football team. He earned National Coaches' Association All-America honors as a senior with 42.3-yard punting average. He Also earned prep all-state honors as a linebacker and saw action on offense as a receiver and a rusher. He was also an All-state prep soccer player as well.

Harris attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he played for the California Golden Bears from 1997 to 2000. He averaged 42.3 yards per punt, and his 13,621 total yards was an NCAA record. His 322 career punts is also an NCAA record. As a junior in 1999, he had a 44.7 yard average. As a senior in 2000, he was recognized as consensus first-team All-American.[1]

Harris graduated with a bachelor's degree in American studies and later with a master's degree in education.

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight
6 ft 1+34 in
(1.87 m)
221 lb
(100 kg)
Values from NFL Combine[2]

Denver Broncos

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Harris was drafted in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos, where he was later waived.[3]

Cincinnati Bengals

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In 2001, the Bengals signed him off of waivers. He was released during the 2003 season.

Detroit Lions

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The Lions signed Harris October 14, 2003 as a replacement for the injured John Jett and he established himself as the Lions punter for the remainder of the season. In 2005, he was named the Special Teams MVP by The Detroit Lions Quarterback Club, the official booster club of the Lions. On September 3, 2011, Harris was released by the Detroit Lions in favor for Ryan Donahue.

Jacksonville Jaguars

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On October 11, 2011, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. On April 28, 2012, the Jacksonville Jaguars released Harris.

Carolina Panthers

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Harris signed with the Carolina Panthers on May 7, 2012. He was released on August 27, 2012.[4]

Second stint with the Detroit Lions

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Harris was signed by the Detroit Lions, for a second time, on September 25, 2012. The signing came after Ben Graham was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list.

Life after football

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Following his football career, Nick Harris earned a Masters of Divinity degree in Christian Theology. In 2015, he began a teaching career at Berean Christian High School in Walnut Creek, California, serving as a Church History and Hermeneutics teacher. In 2019, Harris was hired as the school's principal.

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Punting
GP Punts Yds Net Yds Lng Avg Net Avg Blk Ins20 TB
2001 CIN 16 84 3,372 2,878 57 40.1 33.9 1 21 6
2002 CIN 15 65 2,608 2,074 57 40.1 31.4 1 11 4
2003 CIN 5 28 1,084 841 53 38.7 30.0 0 5 3
DET 11 63 2,531 2,116 51 40.2 33.1 1 11 5
2004 DET 16 92 3,765 3,184 60 40.9 34.2 1 32 7
2005 DET 16 84 3,656 3,096 60 43.5 36.9 0 34 2
2006 DET 16 66 2,967 2,520 67 45.0 38.2 0 18 9
2007 DET 16 68 3,010 2,476 58 44.3 36.4 0 26 5
2008 DET 16 90 3,952 3,418 66 43.9 38.0 0 24 6
2009 DET 16 74 3,175 2,721 56 42.9 36.8 0 20 5
2010 DET 16 90 4,018 3,225 66 44.6 35.8 0 24 8
2011 JAX 11 72 3,075 2,729 55 42.7 37.9 0 13 5
2012 DET 13 67 2,783 2,522 58 41.5 37.6 0 21 1
Career 183 943 39,996 33,800 67 42.4 35.7 4 260 66

References

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  1. ^ 2011 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011). Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  2. ^ "2001 NFL Draft Scout Nick Harris College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  3. ^ "2001 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  4. ^ "Panthers cut Olindo Mare, Nick Harris". ESPN. August 27, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.