Nigel Harris (American football) facts for kids

Nigel Harris was born on December 7, 1994, and is an American professional football player. He plays as a linebacker, which is a key defensive position in football. Nigel played college football for the South Florida Bulls. After college, he joined the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, even though he wasn't chosen in the main draft.

Early Life and High School Football

Nigel Harris grew up playing football in Tampa, Florida. He went to Hillsborough High School and was a star player for three years.

High School Achievements

• In 2010, as a sophomore, he made 95 tackles. His team had a great season, winning 10 games and reaching the regional semifinals.
• The next year, in 2011, he continued to play well, helping his team to an 11–1 record. They also made it to the regional semifinals.
• During his senior year in 2012, Nigel had an amazing season. He made 117 tackles and even ran for 726 yards, scoring 15 touchdowns! He was recognized as one of the best players in the state.
• From 2010 to 2012, Nigel made a total of 301 tackles. His high school team had a fantastic record of 30 wins and only 6 losses during his time there.

College Football Career

Nigel Harris played college football for the South Florida Bulls at the University of South Florida from 2013 to 2016. He was a very important player for their defense.

Key College Seasons

• In 2013, his first year, he played in all 12 games and started 7 of them. He made 35 tackles.
• In 2014, he started all 11 games he played as an inside linebacker. He made 77 tackles and caused 6 fumbles, which was a school record! He led all college players in his division for forced fumbles per game.
• In 2015, he played in 11 games, starting 10. He continued to make big plays, including an interception.
• In 2016, his final year, he started all 13 games as a "Will" linebacker. He made 78 tackles and had 2 interceptions.
• Overall, during his college career, Nigel played in 47 games and started 41 of them. He made 232 tackles, had 3 interceptions, and forced 8 fumbles. His 8 forced fumbles are the second-most in his school's history.

Professional Football Journey

After college, Nigel Harris hoped to play in the NFL.

Joining the NFL

• In 2017, Nigel was not chosen in the NFL Draft. However, the Los Angeles Chargers saw his talent and signed him on May 12, 2017.
• He played in 5 games for the Chargers, making 11 tackles. He was later released by the team.

Moving Between Teams

• After the Chargers, Nigel was picked up by the New York Giants in October 2017. He was later placed on injured reserve due to a ribs injury.
• In December 2017, he joined the practice squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was soon moved to their main roster. He played for the Buccaneers until September 2018.
• He then spent a short time with the practice squad of the Arizona Cardinals in September 2018.
• In October 2018, Nigel signed with the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans. He was promoted to their active roster in December 2018. He stayed with the Titans until July 2020, moving between their main team and practice squad.

Playing in Other Leagues

• In April 2021, Nigel signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, a team in the CFL. He played for them until February 2023.
• Most recently, in October 2023, Nigel joined the San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL. He was on their roster until February 2024.

Personal Life

Nigel Harris comes from a family of football players. His brother, Brandon, and his cousin, Lindsey Lamar, both played college football at the University of South Florida, just like Nigel.