TAMPA, Fla. — Making it to the NFL would be a dream come true for the University of South Florida offensive lineman Demetris Harris. 

What You Need To Know

  • USF Offensive Lineman Demetris Harris looking for his shot in the NFL

  • NFL Draft starts April 27

  • Harris' dream of making an NFL team started when he was in the 5th grade

  • His parents drove up from Jacksonville to watch him try out

Harris closed out his senior year as the Bulls’ all-time leader in career starts with 53 and tied for second in games played. 

Surrounded by familiar faces but mostly faces of 28 NFL scouts at USF’s Pro Day last month, Harris hoped to stand out.

“I’d be lying if I said that I knew all these teams would be out here,” he said. “But you see them out here and it’s like OK, and then once you get going, you’re going.” 

His family drove up from Jacksonville just to see him perform in front of these scouts. 

His mom Stephenie said making an NFL team has been Demetris’ dream since the fifth grade and now he’s one step closer to turning that dream into a reality.

“His first year, he said he wanted to be an NFL player,” she said. “Me being a great mom was like, yeah OK, but he never changed, he never wavered. I exposed him to so many things.”

The Harrises have always been there for Demetris. 

There’s only been a handful of times where they couldn’t make the drive to USF for a game or important day.

Despite the challenges right now, she said they couldn’t miss his Pro Day tryout.

“It’s worth the trip,” Stephenie said. “It’s just phenomenal watching your child do what they want to do.”

“My parents, I mean, awesome, second to none,” Demetris said. “It’s cliché, but I’m for real. They’re second to none. They come to all my games; I can count on my fingers how many games they’ve missed going all the way back to the little league when I first started playing football.”

Demetris was nervous at first, stepping onto the field, but he knew this was his chance to show the scouts what he is made of — to prove that he has what it takes to play at the next level.

“My whole life, I’ve been training for this opportunity, for this moment. And to put on the performance that I did, I think it was great. I think I impressed some scouts, definitely turned some heads, so…” he said.

Now, there’s nothing left to do but wait for a phone call.  

His youth, high school, and college careers have prepared him for what could be a life-changing moment.

After his workout, he said, “I’m happy with my performance and hopefully I get that call.”

Demetris said he would love to play anywhere he gets the call. His parents, though, said they would love for him to be an easy drive away so that they can make the home games.