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The epitome of perseverance, Erik Harris has the unique distinction of being inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame while continuing to play in the NFL. Harris played for the Vulcans from 2008-11 and was a three-year starting defensive back.
During his career, Cal reached the NCAA Playoffs in all four seasons and won back-to-back Super Region One Championships in 2008 and 2009, plus the PSAC Championship in 2008. Harris excelled on special teams as a walk-on freshman before becoming a starter in 2009. He ranked second on the team and set a career high with 84 tackles as a sophomore, while also tallying 4.5 TFL and three interceptions. Harris registered a combined 27 stops in the 2009 NCAA Playoffs, including 11 tackles in the NCAA Semifinals at Northwest Missouri State. As a junior, he was selected to the All-PSAC West First-Team and received all-region status from multiple organizations. Harris tied for second on the team with 61 tackles and finished the year with 5.0 TFL and three interceptions. The Vulcans reached as high as No. 3 in the AFCA Top 25 poll midway through the season after advancing to the national semifinals the previous three years. In 2011, Harris repeated as an All-PSAC West honoree after collecting 71 tackles, 8.5 TFL and three interceptions. Over his last three seasons, he posted 216 tackles and nine interceptions while starting 37 games. Harris played alongside elite level talent in the secondary throughout his college career, as six players from the unit played professionally in the NFL and CFL.
Two years removed from his college career, he signed professionally with the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the CFL in 2013 and played in the Grey Cup – the CFL Championship Game – the following season. Harris then signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2016 before suffering a season-ending injury after appearing in four games. The following year, he signed with the Oakland Raiders and developed into a starting safety from 2019-20. Harris completed his second year with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022.
Harris completed his bachelor's degree in justice studies in 2013.
updated 4/22/23
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