Matthew Harris To Retire From Football
10/24/2016 11:44:00 AM | Football
EVANSTON, Illinois -- Northwestern senior defensive back Matthew Harris will retire from football.
"This is an incredibly difficult decision to reach, but it is the right one for me and for my future," said Harris. "I'm so thankful for Coach Fitzgerald, Coach Brown and the rest of the staff that brought me to Northwestern and have mentored me over the last several years. My teammates are like brothers, and while not being on the field with them has been frustrating and challenging, I'm so proud of the group and what we've helped build together. I owe thanks to our athletic training staff and physicians, whose care throughout my Wildcats career has been outstanding. Finally and most importantly, I can never appropriately express the love and gratitude I have for my family, which has supported me on every step of this journey and will continue to for years to come."
"There are few things I love more than playing the game of football and the game has provided me with so many opportunities, including the chance to attend this University. It has been a blessing to be a part of this community and learn so many lessons. Northwestern has given me so much, I look forward to taking full advantage of my chance to give back to the world around me in the future."
Harris earned All-Big Ten recognition in 2015, and is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. In 37 career games since debuting for the Wildcats as a true freshman, he piled up 161 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions and three forced fumbles, and was selected by his peers as a team captain for the 2016 campaign.
The LaGrange Highlands, Illinois, native was selected in 2015 to receive the Irving Kabiller Memorial Award for Excellence in Character, Commitment and Community, from the NU For Life professional development program. He utilized his $5,000 grant to create a multi-day program for underprivileged young men in the Evanston community during the summer of 2016. He currently serves as co-President of Northwestern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and is one of two Wildcats representatives to the Big Ten Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
"This is an incredibly difficult decision to reach, but it is the right one for me and for my future," said Harris. "I'm so thankful for Coach Fitzgerald, Coach Brown and the rest of the staff that brought me to Northwestern and have mentored me over the last several years. My teammates are like brothers, and while not being on the field with them has been frustrating and challenging, I'm so proud of the group and what we've helped build together. I owe thanks to our athletic training staff and physicians, whose care throughout my Wildcats career has been outstanding. Finally and most importantly, I can never appropriately express the love and gratitude I have for my family, which has supported me on every step of this journey and will continue to for years to come."
"There are few things I love more than playing the game of football and the game has provided me with so many opportunities, including the chance to attend this University. It has been a blessing to be a part of this community and learn so many lessons. Northwestern has given me so much, I look forward to taking full advantage of my chance to give back to the world around me in the future."
Harris earned All-Big Ten recognition in 2015, and is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. In 37 career games since debuting for the Wildcats as a true freshman, he piled up 161 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions and three forced fumbles, and was selected by his peers as a team captain for the 2016 campaign.
The LaGrange Highlands, Illinois, native was selected in 2015 to receive the Irving Kabiller Memorial Award for Excellence in Character, Commitment and Community, from the NU For Life professional development program. He utilized his $5,000 grant to create a multi-day program for underprivileged young men in the Evanston community during the summer of 2016. He currently serves as co-President of Northwestern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and is one of two Wildcats representatives to the Big Ten Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
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