Andrew Harris (Canadian football)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Harris is a professional Canadian football
running back
who currently plays for the BC Lions
of the Canadian Football League
.
program after school, he joined the Vancouver Island Raiders
of the Canadian Junior Football League
. During his phenomenal junior career, he led the Raiders to three national championships
(2006, 2008, and 2009) and broke a number of British Columbia conference and CJFL records, including all-time touchdowns and scoring. In 2009, he was awarded the Wally Buono Award for most outstanding junior football player in Canada.
took notice of Harris's talents in junior football and claimed him as a territorial exemption in 2008. He joined the Lions practice roster in 2009, while continuing to play his final season of junior for the Raiders.
In 2010, Harris earned a spot on the Lions active roster and was used primarily used on special teams in his first season. He was named the CFL's special teams player of the week on September 14, 2010.
Harris began the 2011 season as the Lions' backup running back. Harris saw his role expand and he took over as the starting running back in midseason, finishing with 853 total yards and 8 touchdowns. During the 2011 CFL playoffs, Harris was named the Canadian player of the week for his performance in the Lions' win over the Edmonton Eskimos
in the West Division Final. A week later, Harris was named the Most Outstanding Canadian at the Grey Cup
, scoring a touchdown and rushing for 65 yards in the Lions 34-23 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
.
alumnus. He cites his idol as being former Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Charles Roberts. Since joining the Lions, Harris has worn #33 as a tribute to a Raiders teammate who died in a car crash in September 2008.
Harris has a daughter and continues to make Winnipeg his home during the offseason.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who currently plays for the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Junior Career
Harris took the rare path to professional football by going through the junior system and not university. Instead of joining a CIS footballCIS football
Twenty-six universities across Canada compete in football under the auspices of Canadian Interuniversity Sport . The teams are divided into four conferences, drawing from the four regional associations of the CIS: Canada West Universities Athletic Association, Ontario University Athletics, Quebec...
program after school, he joined the Vancouver Island Raiders
Vancouver Island Raiders
The Vancouver Island Raiders are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The Raiders play in the eight-team B.C. Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl...
of the Canadian Junior Football League
Canadian Junior Football League
The Canadian Junior Football League is a national amateur Canadian football league consisting of 19 teams playing in six provinces across Canada. The teams compete annually for the Canadian Bowl...
. During his phenomenal junior career, he led the Raiders to three national championships
Canadian Bowl
The Canadian Bowl is the championship of the Canadian Junior Football League. The three league champions participate in the playdowns for the championship. One champion receives a bye to the game, while the other two play off in the Jostens Cup. The bye rotates among the three...
(2006, 2008, and 2009) and broke a number of British Columbia conference and CJFL records, including all-time touchdowns and scoring. In 2009, he was awarded the Wally Buono Award for most outstanding junior football player in Canada.
Professional Career
BC Lions head coach and general manager Wally BuonoWally Buono
Pasquale "Wally" Buono is the head coach, general manager and alternate governor of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, and one of the most successful coaches in league history. He is in his 19th year of coaching, previously as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders and currently with the...
took notice of Harris's talents in junior football and claimed him as a territorial exemption in 2008. He joined the Lions practice roster in 2009, while continuing to play his final season of junior for the Raiders.
In 2010, Harris earned a spot on the Lions active roster and was used primarily used on special teams in his first season. He was named the CFL's special teams player of the week on September 14, 2010.
Harris began the 2011 season as the Lions' backup running back. Harris saw his role expand and he took over as the starting running back in midseason, finishing with 853 total yards and 8 touchdowns. During the 2011 CFL playoffs, Harris was named the Canadian player of the week for his performance in the Lions' win over the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
in the West Division Final. A week later, Harris was named the Most Outstanding Canadian at the Grey Cup
99th Grey Cup
The 99th Grey Cup was a Canadian football game between the East Division champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the West Division champion BC Lions to decide the champion of the Canadian Football League in the 2011 season. The Lions defeated the Blue Bombers, 34–23, and became the first team in CFL...
, scoring a touchdown and rushing for 65 yards in the Lions 34-23 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
.
Personal
Harris was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is an Oak Park High SchoolOak Park High School (Manitoba)
Oak Park High School is a high school located in the Charleswood area of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It offers a dual-track English and French Immersion program. Oak Park also offers Advanced Placement courses and one of the most comprehensive fine arts programs in the province...
alumnus. He cites his idol as being former Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Charles Roberts. Since joining the Lions, Harris has worn #33 as a tribute to a Raiders teammate who died in a car crash in September 2008.
Harris has a daughter and continues to make Winnipeg his home during the offseason.