With the ball in his hands, Dyllan Harris is the kind of football player who makes an impact.
And even without the ball, Harris often makes an impact of a different kind.
The 6-foot-11/2, 185-pound Harris, a senior from Oak Harbor, is one of the top returning wide receivers in the Wesco 3A North. A year ago he helped the Wildcats to the Class 3A state playoffs with 34 receptions for 600 yards and seven touchdowns, with another touchdown on a punt return.
But as good as he is with the ball, Harris is just as good helping teammates when they have the ball. He is, said Oak Harbor coach Jay Turner, “flat-out the best blocker on our team. He’s just a tenacious blocker. … We design running plays where he’s the focal point of our blocking attack.”
It is, he added, “kind of unique to have a receiver who’s that good of a blocker.”
Of course, Turner also understands that exciting things happen when Harris has the ball. Though not blessed with blazing speed, Harris has exceptional leaping ability and hand-eye coordination, and with his quickness and power he can turn short receptions into long gains.
“He’s our go-to guy,” Turner said. “When we need a big play, we’re going to throw it up to him. The guy’s got pretty spectacular hands, he’s very athletic, and with his size he’s a nice, big target.
“He’s a weapon and we want him to have the ball.”
Since last season, Harris has grown about an inch and added about 15 pounds, with the latter due in part to diligent weight training. But he plays even bigger than he is because, as he explained, “I like contact. I like making big hits on people. I always want to be more aggressive and more physical than my defender.”
Harris is also a standout basketball player, and he can display his jumping ability on the court by dunking with two hands, which is generally more difficult than dunking with one hand. But for Harris two hands is easier “because it’s hard for me to palm the ball. When I hold it with one hand it kind of slips out,” he said.
On the football field, he went on, “I feel like if I go up with someone, I’m going to snag the ball. (Out-jumping a defender) is how I scored a lot of my touchdowns and how I got a lot of yards last year.”
On defense Harris patrols the secondary from his free safety position. He had four interceptions a year ago, but against the run “he comes up (in pursuit) like a linebacker,” said Turner, citing Harris’ 73 tackles last season.
In addition, Harris returns punts and kickoffs for the Wildcats. He is, Turner said, “kind of a do-it-all guy, and we get him out on the field as much as we can. And when you see him on the field, he’s definitely somebody that stands out.”
Others agree. “(With) the quickness and speed Harris has, he’s a dynamic talent,” said Marysville Pilchuck coach Brandon Carson. “He’s a pretty gifted kid.”
Harris hopes to play collegiately next year, and the only question is whether he ends up playing football or basketball.
“I want both so much,” he said. “I feel like I like basketball more, but I feel like I’m more (of a football player). … If I have the opportunity to go (NCAA Division 1) in either one, that’s would I would take.”
In football, and in terms of blue-chip recruiting, perhaps the only question about Harris is his speed. He recently ran a 4.8-second 40-yard dash, which is good for a high school player, but less than what most elite college programs would want from wide receiver and defensive back prospects.
“He’s got good speed … but he’s not going to blow past you with his world-class speed,” Turner acknowledged. “If he was a 4.5 guy, he’d have every Pac-12 school knocking down the doors for him.
“But he’s starting to get some looks. And we’ll probably start seeing more of it as the season goes on because his athletic ability kind of stands out.”
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