2016 Football Roster
Harris, Matthew
Jersey Number 11
Matthew Harris
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 184
- Position:
- CB
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- LaGrange Highlands, Ill.
- High School:
- Lyons Township
Bio
2016: True senior ... Team Captain ... Started the first two games of the season before retiring from football due to medical reasons ... Had a season-high five tackles in the season opener versus Western Michigan ... Academic All-Big Ten.
2015: True junior ... Started 11 games at cornerback ... Third Team All-Big Ten defense ... First place on the squad with a career-high four interceptions, including two in one game versus Eastern Illinois ... Converted a 71-yard pick-six in the victory ... Recorded seven tackles, 1.0 TFL, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in victory at Wisconsin ... Set a new career high with three pass break-ups versus Ball State ... Notched five tackles and three pass break-ups in shutout of Minnesota ... Led team in pass break-ups with 13 ... Led all NU cornerbacks with 48 tackles ... Academic All-Big Ten.
2014: True sophomore ... Started all 12 games at cornerback ... Tied for 13th in the Big Ten with nine pass breakups during the regular season ... Finished third on the team with 70 tackles ... Notched an interception in the final game of the season vs. Illinois ... Forced a fumble at Notre Dame ... Against Michigan, tied for team lead with eight tackles while recording his first career INT ... Led 'Cats with two pass breakups against Nebraska ... Registered eight tackles and a pass breakup vs. Wisconsin ... Matched career high with two pass breakups at Penn State ... Registered a career-best 10 tackles (seven solo) against Western Illinois ... Posted six total tackles against both Cal and Northern Illinois ... Also had a pass breakup against the Huskies ... Named NU's co-Defensive Big Playmaker at Penn State and the team's Defensive Player of the Game vs. Michigan ... Academic All-Big Ten.
2013: One of two true freshmen to see the field in 2013 ... ESPN.com Big Ten All-Freshman team selection, starting the last five games at cornerback and serving as NU's primary kick returner (21 returns, 484 yards) ... Tallied career-high six tackles in third-straight game against Michigan State ... Matched previous high with six tackles against Michigan ... Registered six tackles at Nebraska ... Added two pass breakups against the Huskers ... Made first career start at cornerback at Iowa ... Posted three tackles and a 38-yard kickoff return against the Hawkeyes ... Credited with four tackles against Minnesota ... Posted career-high five tackles at Wisconsin ... Returned three kickoffs for 68 yards against the Badgers ... Made a solo tackle against Ohio State ... Returned three kickoffs, including a long of 28 yards against Maine ... Also had one tackle ... Returned opening kickoff 47 yards against Western Michigan ... Registered first collegiate tackle and pass breakup against the Broncos ... Made collegiate debut on special teams in season opener at Cal.
High School: Rated as the No. 22 overall recruit in the state of Illinois by Rivals.com ... Ranked as the No. 85 WR recruit nationally by Scout.com ... Played three years of varsity football for Lyons, twice earning first-team All-State honors ... All-Area MVP ... Three-time All-West Suburban Silver Conference ... Helped Lyons reach state quarterfinals in three straight seasons ... Also a four-year letterwinner in track and field, placing second in Illinois 3A in long jump ... Team captain in both football and track and field.
Personal: Born Matthew Lewis Narvell Harris ... Son of Tina Harris and the late Russell Harris Sr. ... Major is learning and organizational change.
2015: True junior ... Started 11 games at cornerback ... Third Team All-Big Ten defense ... First place on the squad with a career-high four interceptions, including two in one game versus Eastern Illinois ... Converted a 71-yard pick-six in the victory ... Recorded seven tackles, 1.0 TFL, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in victory at Wisconsin ... Set a new career high with three pass break-ups versus Ball State ... Notched five tackles and three pass break-ups in shutout of Minnesota ... Led team in pass break-ups with 13 ... Led all NU cornerbacks with 48 tackles ... Academic All-Big Ten.
2014: True sophomore ... Started all 12 games at cornerback ... Tied for 13th in the Big Ten with nine pass breakups during the regular season ... Finished third on the team with 70 tackles ... Notched an interception in the final game of the season vs. Illinois ... Forced a fumble at Notre Dame ... Against Michigan, tied for team lead with eight tackles while recording his first career INT ... Led 'Cats with two pass breakups against Nebraska ... Registered eight tackles and a pass breakup vs. Wisconsin ... Matched career high with two pass breakups at Penn State ... Registered a career-best 10 tackles (seven solo) against Western Illinois ... Posted six total tackles against both Cal and Northern Illinois ... Also had a pass breakup against the Huskies ... Named NU's co-Defensive Big Playmaker at Penn State and the team's Defensive Player of the Game vs. Michigan ... Academic All-Big Ten.
2013: One of two true freshmen to see the field in 2013 ... ESPN.com Big Ten All-Freshman team selection, starting the last five games at cornerback and serving as NU's primary kick returner (21 returns, 484 yards) ... Tallied career-high six tackles in third-straight game against Michigan State ... Matched previous high with six tackles against Michigan ... Registered six tackles at Nebraska ... Added two pass breakups against the Huskers ... Made first career start at cornerback at Iowa ... Posted three tackles and a 38-yard kickoff return against the Hawkeyes ... Credited with four tackles against Minnesota ... Posted career-high five tackles at Wisconsin ... Returned three kickoffs for 68 yards against the Badgers ... Made a solo tackle against Ohio State ... Returned three kickoffs, including a long of 28 yards against Maine ... Also had one tackle ... Returned opening kickoff 47 yards against Western Michigan ... Registered first collegiate tackle and pass breakup against the Broncos ... Made collegiate debut on special teams in season opener at Cal.
High School: Rated as the No. 22 overall recruit in the state of Illinois by Rivals.com ... Ranked as the No. 85 WR recruit nationally by Scout.com ... Played three years of varsity football for Lyons, twice earning first-team All-State honors ... All-Area MVP ... Three-time All-West Suburban Silver Conference ... Helped Lyons reach state quarterfinals in three straight seasons ... Also a four-year letterwinner in track and field, placing second in Illinois 3A in long jump ... Team captain in both football and track and field.
Personal: Born Matthew Lewis Narvell Harris ... Son of Tina Harris and the late Russell Harris Sr. ... Major is learning and organizational change.
Football - Western Illinois Cinematic Recap (9/5/25)
Monday, September 08
Football - Week 3 Monday Press Conference (9/8/25)
Monday, September 08
Football - Western Illinois at Northwestern Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, September 06
Football - 'Cats Roll Western Illinois, 42-7 in Home Opener (9/5/25)
Saturday, September 06
