FAYETTEVILLE -- De'Jon Harris can't tell you how many snaps he averaged per football game for Marrero (La.) John Ehret High School last season.
Figuring out how many snaps he didn't play is much easier.
De’Jon Harris at a glance
CLASS Freshman
POSITION Linebacker
HEIGHT/WEIGHT 6-0, 240 pounds
HOMETOWN Marrero, La.
HIGH SCHOOL John Ehret
AGE 18 (born Nov. 1, 1997)
NOTEWORTHY Consensus three-star recruit by ESPN, 247Sports, Rivals and Scout. … Ranked as a top 30 inside linebacker nationally by ESPN and 247Sports. …Rated the No. 38 overall prospect in Louisiana by 247Sports. … Son of Lee and Trenise Murphy. … Full name is De’Jon Raiheem Harris.
"I probably missed two plays a game," Harris said. "Maybe three."
Harris played quarterback and linebacker for the Patriots, but at times he lined up at wide receiver and running back.
Special teams didn't provide any breaks because Harris kicked off, punted, and returned kickoffs and punts. He was the deep snapper on extra points and field-goal attempts.
"The job Scoota did for us was amazing," said Ehret Coach Corey Lambert, using Harris' nickname. "He did everything. That's why he never came off the field.
"I've been coaching for 17 years, and I've never had another player like him. He didn't wear out. He just kept going."
Harris had 1,058 rushing yards last season along with 495 passing and 374 receiving. He also had 83 tackles, including 14 for a loss, as Ehret went 12-3 and reached the Louisiana Class 5A state championship game before losing to Zachary 46-12.
Quarterback was added to Harris' duties when Caron Baham, Ehert's starting quarterback who is now at Colorado, suffered a season-ending injury in the opener.
He led the Patriots on an eight-game winning streak and their first title game appearance in the Superdome since 1985 after taking over as the full-time starter.
"Scoota's the main reason we went to the championship game for the first time in 30 years," Lambert said. "Arkansas is getting one hell of a player.
"He's a hardworking kid, and he's going to do everything you ask him to do."
Arkansas won't be asking Harris to do as much as he did at Ehret.
Harris, who signed with the Razorbacks in February and arrived on campus this summer, is expected to play linebacker.
Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith said he believes Harris will be a middle or weakside linebacker.
"It depends on how he picks things up in the summer," Smith said. "When we get a chance to actually see him in training camp, we'll figure out what's best."
Harris said his mother, Trenise, nicknamed him "Scoota" when he was a baby.
"My mom said that before I started walking, I was scooting around everywhere," Harris said. "She called me Scoota, and it stuck."
Harris, 6-0 and 240 pounds, said quarterback was his favorite position in high school because he loved to run counter and power plays, but linebacker is his preference for the Razorbacks.
"I didn't want want to play quarterback in college," he said. "I'm not tall enough.
"At linebacker, I can chase guys around and make plays. You also can have a longer career if you're doing the hitting instead of being hit."
Lambert said Harris should excel at linebacker for Arkansas
"Linebacker is his best college spot," Lambert said. "He's a good hitter, he can run and cover, and he's got a good football IQ."
Harris said he's hopeful of playing as a true freshman, which seems realistic considering the Razorbacks' need for linebacker depth behind returning starters Brooks Ellis and Dre Greenlaw.
"I feel like playing linebacker here is going to get me on the field earlier than if I played running back or another position," Harris said. "I just need to get the plays down, and I'm going to work on that all summer.
"It's going to take me back to my freshman year in high school when I first started playing defense. I can just focus on that one position and learn everything I need to know."
Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith, who recruits Louisiana, became aware of Harris before his junior season.
Smith was visiting Ehret to evaluate players, specifically linebacker Michael Divinity, who will be a freshman at LSU this season.
"Everybody knew about Divinity, but Corey Lambert is a good friend and pulled me aside and said, 'Smitty, my best player's right there, No. 2,' " Smith said. "It was Scoota.
"Watching him practice, you could tell he was a very special player. We continued to watch him play throughout his junior year and really fell in love with him."
The attraction was mutual.
Harris committed to Arkansas in May 2015 after his junior season. He also had a scholarship offer from Oregon.
"Oregon has a great program," he said. "But it was just too far from home."
A program closer to home -- Alabama -- offered Harris a scholarship in December. Harris took an official visit to Alabama and met with Crimson Tide Coach Nick Saban.
"No matter who it is, you're always holding your breath to the end," Robb Smith said of Alabama's late offer to Harris. "I thought Michael did a great job with him throughout the recruiting process. They really developed a great relationship.
"I also think he [Harris] just felt comfortable at Arkansas, and we're certainly glad to have him. He's a guy with a high ceiling."
Harris said he never wavered in his commitment to the Razorbacks.
"It was nice and cool to have the offer from Nick Saban, but I didn't have any intentions of going to Alabama," Harris said. "I wanted to be at Arkansas."
Sports on 07/02/2016