’27 two-level defender looks headed to LB on the varsity Panther defense
We call him “Big-Hit Harris” around the magazine. Teven is an exceptional player entering the varsity roster and high school as a 9th-grader in ’23. He has been a ball-hawk thus far in his career. We don’t expect he will be any different as a high-schooler or a collegian, for that matter.
HB Lyon, Scouting Division, KPGFootball
We are approximately a month away from opening the ’23 season. There will be some ’27’s seeing the field as early as night one. Programs survive (and sometimes thrive) on the quality of its incoming roster talent.
Hopkinsville High and Trigg County boast a pair of freshman phenoms in QB, Easton Mann (HHS), and DB/WR, Jack Whaley Long (Trigg). Breathitt County boasts one of the finest ’27’s in all of Kentucky in Kylen Combs, who we expect will be a first-night starter for the Bobcats, one of the deepest rosters in 2A across Kentucky.
Hopkinsville High has a RB about whom everyone raves. His name is Tristin Dilliard and he hails, genetically, from a long, distinguished line of former and present Tigers.
Russellville has one of its own. Russellville lays claim to Teven “Big-Hit” Harris. You may look far and wide but you won’t find a ’27 with much more promise, nor possessing more opportunity.
Harris is expected to align for the Russellville High School this coming Fall. It is believed he will play early like his classmates above named in addition to him. The Panthers know a little something about welcoming premier talent onto its roster AND winning ball games and championships.
Russellville, as a program, is approaching 550-wins (all-time). The Panthers are 58-38 just in the playoffs.
Panthers have won 14-regional crowns, been state runners-up four (4) times, and have won three state titles in football
Russellville Football History
The Panthers have won 14-regional crowns (1964, 1966, 1970, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 2015, 2016, 2021), been state runners-up four (4) times (1964, 1966, 1987, 2021), and have won the entire enchilada thrice (1980, 1983, and 1990). It is a program steeped in tradition which boasts an in-door practice facility, not too common among 1A high schools across the commonwealth.
The Panthers have played in Rhea Stadium since 1939. Rhea Stadium was a build constructed with WPA funding (Works Progress Administration, part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s, “New Deal”).
The Art Deco stadium boasts a raised corner in one of its end zones and was home to the 1950, 10-0 Panthers (Pre-KHSAA). Those guys were ranked No. 2 in Kentucky, regardless of the school’s paltry enrollment, at the end of the year and finished the season hailed as, perhaps, the greatest small-school, football team to EVER take a Kentucky High School gridiron.
Harris would seem to fit seamlessly into that storied tradition. Harris has played in both the defensive second and third levels. He has fluid hips, covers well, plays sideline to sideline, and comes up into the box and “lays the wood,” hence the nickname, “Big-Hit.”
Harris has fluid hips, covers well,…and comes up into the box and “lays the wood,” hence the nickname, “Big-Hit”
HB Lyon
Harris is explosive and physical. At LB, Harris is really, really fast and causes match-up problems with would-be blockers. At the third level, where he is still fast enough to operate, he is an inordinately big and physical option, causing problems at that level too.
Harris is far from finished growing. He has a lengthy frame on which pounds of muscle can easily be added.
Simply put, Harris is an elite performer at his stage of development. There is no reason to think he won’t continue to be elite as he matriculates through the prep ranks.
This guy is a future Friday night star. He has Saturday football, at some level, in his future.
This is Fletcher W. Long, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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