STARKVILLE — As Dez Harris forced two fumbles against LSU on Saturday, the Mississippi State linebacker thought about his mother.
Overcoming three knee injuries wasn’t easy for the junior. If he gave up the game and decided to focus on other things, nobody would blame him. But that’s not Harris. He’s a fighter. Even so, the recovery process wasn’t easy.
He had a great support system behind him, including his mother, Delaina.
“My mom is definitely one of the strongest women I have ever met in my life, knowing what we have both been through together.” Harris said. “Her in my corner, pushing me and telling me to keep going day in and day out, it’s always been that thing that kept me taking it one step forward.”
Along with his two forced fumbles, Harris had five tackles in MSU’s 23-20 loss in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Although he wanted the victory, Harris’ performance showed the hard work he invested in rehabilitation for a third time paid off. Harris will try to deliver a similar performance at 2:30 p.m. Saturday when MSU (1-2) plays Massachusetts (1-2) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. WCBI will broadcast the game live locally.
Harris missed his senior season at McAdory High School in Bessemer, Alabama, with torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The 6-foot-4, 236-pound Harris tore the ACL in his left knee in his redshirt freshman season in 2014 and his sophomore season last year. In his first two seasons, he played in 13 games and had 19 tackles.
One of the injuries came through contact, while the other two were non-contact. Harris said he was running and stepped wrong, causing two of the injuries.
Harris said he wanted to set a good example for his 13-year old sister, Keniye, who is getting interested in sports. Harris said he didn’t want her to see him quit because of an injury.
“I always told myself that when I walk off the football field, I’m going to walk off on my own accord not from injury,” Harris said.
Harris made the most of his opportunity at LSU. After starting middle linebacker Richie Brown was shaken up in the first half, MSU first-year defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon put Harris into the game. Harris made running back Leonard Fournette fumble in the third quarter. He then forced Fournette into another fumble in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs scored on the ensuing driving to have a chance for a come-from-behind victory. After the touchdown, MSU coach Dan Mullen decided to try an onside kick and Harris recovered it. The Bulldog scored again to pull within a field goal.
“You see what we’ve been hoping to see out of him for the last couple of years and obviously injuries have set back his development,” Mullen said. “He was a really good special teams player, which usually leads to continuing to grow, develop, and become a good defensive player. We’ve always expected a lot out of him. Hopefully, he can build on this now and start becoming more of a factor, role player on the defensive side on the ball.”
Sirmon saw Harris hit the practice fields hard in spring. He said that work ethic carried over into training camp, so he was comfortable letting Harris play key snaps after Brown went down.
“To have the resolve and to be able to continue to battle back from setback after setback after setback and then go out in that environment and that situation and pull the ball away from him two times, that was a special night for anybody,” Sirmon said. “To do it on top of the challenges he’s had while he’s been here, I think it kind of speaks to about what kind of kid he is.”
Harris said the injuries haven’t altered his preparation. Many players coming off injuries are hesitant and are leery that they will get hurt again. With three injuries in his past, it wouldn’t be a surprise if that was Harris’ attitude. However, Harris has a different attitude.
“I try not to think about it because I have tremendous faith and trust in the doctors that operated on me,” Harris said. “I don’t really think about my knee anymore. If it’s sore, I might put the brace on. But if it’s not sore, I don’t even wear the brace.”
Harris’ family, especially his mother, have been a driving force behind his comebacks. He is thankful for his support system. He also has learned the next snap isn’t guaranteed. That is what drives him to give it his all.
“It humbles you and shows you this game can be given to you and taken from you just like that. You have to step out on the field and go your hardest,” Harris said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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