Harris, Raymont

Raymont Harris – (2006)

 

As a running back in high school, college and as a professional, Raymont Harris’ accomplishments distinguish him.

As a junior back, he played a significant role in Admiral King winning the Erie Shore Conference crown in its first year as a member of the league.

His senior season was shortened to 3 1/2 games due to two injuries at different times. Nevertheless, in those 3 1/2 games, bullish Harris rumbled for 671 yards, including a school and then-Lorain County record of 332 yards rushing against rival Lorain Senior’s Steelmen. That mark stood for more than 10 years.

Raymont’s play during that shortened prep campaign was so impressive that he was offered full scholarships from such national powerhouses as Ohio State, Miami, UCLA and Michigan. Harris, who was a member of the National Honor Society at Admiral King, eagerly accepted the opportunity to continue his student-athelete career at The Ohio State University from which he was a 1994 graduate.

After a red-shirt season in 1989, Harrris earned four varsity letters as an offensive back from 1990-93. He was a part-time starter the first three years then started every game at tailback for the Buckeyes in 1993 when he gained 1,344 yards and was named OSU’s Most Valuable Player. The 1993 Buckeyes under Coach John Cooper finished with a 10-1-1 season record.

Raymont capped that fabulous senior season by scoring three touchdowns and gaining 235 yards in 39 carries in a hard earned 28-21 triumph over Brigham Young in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30, 1993. Harris’ play in San Diego was judged the Outstanding Bowl Performance in OSU history and helped put the Lorainite in the Holiday Bowl Hall of Fame.

In OSU’s all-time records, Harris, nicknamed “Quiet Storm,” ranks fifth with his 245 single-game yards; his 1,344 season yards ranks ninth; and his 2,649 career yards ranks eighth.

Following graduation, Harris became a fourth-round draft pick of the National Football League’s renown Chicago Bears where he enjoyed a six-year pro career.

The high point of that pro career was 1997 when he piled up 1,033 yards in 275 carries (3.8 avg.) and scored 10 TDs for the Bears. That ironman performance earned Raymont a first-team running back berth on NFL Hall of Famer John Madden’s “All-Madden Pro Football Team.” He also made a stop at Green Bay in 1998 when injuries essentially ended his career. Harris then spent four years as a radio-TV sportscaster before switching employment to Chase Bank in Columbus.

*WELCOME, RAYMONT HARRIS, INTO THE LORAIN SPORTS HALL OF FAME*