Harris was a senior captain and third team All-Big Ten selection last season, recording 90 tackles this past year, nine of them for a loss. Harris is one of the strongest players in all of college football, as he can bench press almost twice his weight. Harris excels in tackling in space and run stopping, but struggles in pass coverage. His strength might get him drafted, but it would still be in a later round.
Much like the other head coaches within the MSU athletic department the athletes also seem to support one another as often as they can.
With the men's basketball team heading to the Final Four many of the athletes on other teams at the school are excited for their peers.
Senior pitcher on the baseball team Mick VanVossen felt that it was just a unique experience as a Spartan to see the basketball team in the Final Four.
“I was ecstatic just like the rest of campus, I’ve been following Michigan State hoops for as long as I can remember so it was definitely a cool experience as a Spartan," VanVossen said.
Junior gymnast Nicola Deans was surprised that the team was able to get it done as a No. 7 seed when there was so much doubt surrounding the team earlier in the year.
“It was crazy just going in as a 7-seed there were talks of them not making the tournament and then to go and make the Final Four, what more can you ask for?," Deans said “When great athletes and great coaching come together magic happens in March.”
Incoming senior linebacker Darien Harris and about 15 other football players gathered to watch the Elite Eight game at former Spartan Taiwan Jones' house.
"Just being around the guys and being able to watch the game and being able to sit back as fans this time instead of players was really fun," Harris said. "When we finally won we were ecstatic and just really proud of the guys."
Harris talked about the connected athletic department and likened this years basketball run to the football team's comeback wins in both the 2014 Rose Bowl and the 2015 Cotton Bowl.
“They’ve been down in all of these games and (were) able to come back much like we have in our bowl game wins," Harris said. "Whether its women’s cross country winning the national championship or soccer making it to the Elite Eight, everybody supports everybody and that’s what makes this place so great.”
Harris is deciding between staying in East Lansing and watching the game or going to Indianapolis with a few teammates to be in the area and take it all in.
"I'm still 50/50 on whether I'm going to (Indianapolis) or staying (in East Lansing)," Harris said. "Honestly we would just go to experience the atmosphere."
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