Interview: 3-Star 2022 Texas CB Nahamani Harris is Shutting Them Down Earning College Camp MVP
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The best ways possible, Nahamani “Mani” Harris is different. At 6-2, 185, he is not your usual cornerback. Watching game film, his technique is above the high school grade more than capable of blanketing a top receiver in man consistently racking up those P-B-Us. Put him in a zone, watch him get an unreal pick-six. After a 2020 season with Cornerstone Christian that ended with Whataburger Super Team Texas honors, Harris has reclassified from the 2021 class to 2022 transferring to St. Thomas building his recruitment back up from seven offers to starting anew… and the college programs are lining back up.
Making his first visit to the RNG Clubhouse, Harris takes inside his summer workouts with a look at his revamped recruiting process.
Interview
Mani, I love starting interviews off highlighting a big-time play. That one-handed pick you took back to the house is one of those sweet kinds of plays that deserves to be mentioned. When you went back to watch the film on that, what were your thoughts?
(Laughs) I was happy. That was a crazy pick in zone, and I took it to the house. In man you don’t get those opportunities. I think the quarterback thought he could float it over me, but I took it back to the crib. It was a Hudl Top 10. It was dope; that highlight was all over.
I really like your footwork, eye discipline, and overall technique at corner. What drills are you constantly doing as corner to prepare for Friday nights?
I do a lot of footwork with my trainer. Every day I am doing drills, working on all the breaks, speed turns, outs, and preparing for every situation. Eye discipline comes with 7v7, in-game experience, and practice. Over time you get better at it. Training is more muscle memory. Training hard with experience, that becomes something special.
What coverages were you executing with Cornerstone?
I played boundary. I roam the field and lock up their No. 1 receiver. Rarely are we in zone. We run man, Cover 2, or a Cover 3-Cover 4 hybrid. For me, it depends on the receiver I am going against. Normally, I am going to the short side to lock up their top receiver.
Going into the offseason, which areas of your game did you focus on fine-tuning?
I have been working on tracking the ball and being in position to get more turnovers. Turnovers will help you get from a good to great defensive back. How often you can get the ball back makes a difference so your team can go score. You start getting turnovers, are they afraid to throw your way because of an interception? That starts shutting down part of the field. I have been working on my ball skills, eye discipline, and being more of a ballhawk.
How have you added more speed and agility to your skills?
I do speed drills every other day with my trainer. We go on the track to work going over starts and pushing sleds. It is like a track practice. He has me doing 6- and 10-yard sprints. Evey other week I work on my 40 starts. I am trying to fix and improve on my 40. It is a short race, there are little things here and there to improve your time a 10th of a second.
This offseason I have also been lifting and doing explosive movements to be explode out of my start. Power cleans, resistance bands, and squats are helping me get me more explosive and become an overall better athlete.
What is the best 40 time you’ve posted this offseason?
My best is a 4.59. I ran a 4.63 at the Kentucky camp.
Do you compete in other varsity sports for Cornerstone?
I run track.
Which events?
The 4×1, 4×2, open 200, and triple long jump.
Nice. Have you been playing 7v7 this spring and summer?
Yes, with Texas Fury.
How many tournaments have you played in so far?
More than I can count. I can’t remember how many I have played in this year. From right after the season, every weekend we were playing in a tournament. It was real tiring. It was a lot of work.
Playing against top national competition with Texas Fury, how has that helped your overall game improve?
It helped improve with the competition and environment going against the best week in and week out. A lot of guys are playing their other sports; I am football focused. That gives me the edge on them. It helps me get better losing and winning reps against the best. After playing against the best, facing regular competition, it is a different ball game. This is preparing me for college when I will be going against them on Saturdays. It has been preparing me for my new normal to come.
When the 2021 season gets going, which positions will you be playing?
Probably some safety and corner. A lot of coaches want to see me at safety. I will do some returns, but more than likely no offense this year. Defense is more the focus.
Have you been to any college camps this summer?
Yes, I have been to UTSA, Texas Tech, FSU, UCF, Kentucky, Notre Dame, and Ole Miss.
Where any of those private workouts?
Yes, Ole Miss and UCF were private workouts.
It’s a big one, how did the Notre Dame camp go for you?
It went really well. They have two official visits at my position coming in, they will be getting back to me. Those guys are big recruits. They will see what those guys will do. If those guys are committing or not, then they will get back to me. The Notre Dame coaches were pushing me out to other schools; they thought I was a very good player.
Very cool. And the Texas Tech camp, how did that go?
It went really-really well. I got DB MVP. I had a good talk with head coach (Matt) Wells, their defensive coordinator, Coach (Keith) Patterson, and my position coach, Coach (Derek) Jones. Their staff and I clicked. I talked to them for a while. Getting on campus and putting on a good workout for them was great. They are keeping a close eye on me this season. We will see what they will do going forward.
Let’s get into recruiting. Which schools are showing interest?
Ole Miss, Indiana, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Kentucky, Charlotte, FSU, UConn, Arkansas State, UCF, and Texas State; those are the ones off the top of my head since I reclassed. And Notre Dame.
Before you reclassified, how many offers did you have?
I have seven.
Now how many offers do you have?
It is starting all over. All those were part of 2021 class. I have added two in past two days.
Which two programs have brought the new offers?
Fordham and Liberty.
Mani, I appreciate your time today. Wishing you the best of luck preparing for your senior season and along the recruiting trail.
Yes, sir. Thank you.
Photo credit: Harris family; Nahamani Harris