North Carolina Central receiver Joachin Davis didn’t hesitate when asked which offensive players were ready to step up for the Eagles this season.
“Walker Harris,” Davis said during an interview with NC Football News at Tuesday’s MEAC Media Day in Norfolk.
“A lot of people don’t know what he has to bring to the table because Davius Richard was the quarterback for so long. But I’ve seen Walker sit and just work and grind and learn and soak up everything from Davius, so I know he’s going to go out there and perform.”
NC Central coach Trei Oliver stopped short of officially anointing Harris as QB1 with the new season just five weeks away — there is always the element of competition coaches like to foster for starting spots during spring and summer drills. But the redshirt senior from Rolesville (Heritage HS) certainly occupies pole position in the quest to follow Richard, a two-time MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, who held the reins from early season 2019 to last November.
“We’ve got some outstanding young quarterbacks that we’ve brought in over the past two years,” Oliver said during MEAC Media Day. “But Walker has been a pro over the last three years since he’s been in the program. He’s more than capable. He could have been starting the last two years, but he’s worked every day like he was the starter … He has just sat and waited his turn.”
Harris, a southpaw, had a banner high school career at Heritage. He was named conference player of the year as a senior after throwing for 3,304 yards and 36 touchdowns. He threw for 2,131 yards and 16 TDs as a junior. He was a big get for North Carolina Central’s quarterback room.
Harris saw spot duty as a redshirt freshman at Central in 2021, starting in a win over Winston-Salem State. He appeared in all 11 games as a redshirt sophomore in ’22, mostly as a holder.
Harris’ breakout came last year when Richard suffered an injury at UCLA in mid-September.
Harris finished out that game in the famed Rose Bowl, completing 12-of-18 passes for 114 yards. He then got the start the next week in Indianapolis in the Circle City Classic, torching Mississippi Valley State to the tune of 263 passing yards and five touchdowns. The MEAC named him its offensive player of the week (an honor Richard collected five times in 2023).
“He comes to me that Sunday and says, ‘I threw five touchdowns…'” Oliver said. “I was like, ‘Young fella, you’ve got to wait for Davius to leave, and then we’ll talk about that.'”
That time is now for the Eagles, coming off a 9-3 season, which included missing out on the Celebration Bowl but getting the chance to face Richmond in the FCS playoffs. If NC Central aims to return to either iteration of the post-season, quarterback play will be vital.
“I’m so pleased with him and his development and his arm strength,” Oliver said. “The dynamics are going to be a little different and how we attack people, but he can throw that football.”
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It’s a testament to Oliver, his staff and the NCCU program culture that Harris chose to stay in Durham. Unlike many young players who would jump ship to supposed greener pastures after not earning a starting job, Harris took the opposite tact. Wait. Learn. Soak up the knowledge. Build for 2024.
“He had an opportunity to learn under one of the best offensive coordinators in the country, Matt Leone,” Oliver said. “Then he got a chance to sit behind Davius and learn from him — seeing how it’s supposed to look.
“It’s a surprising fact, a lot of people don’t know this, he played in every game last year. I had a plan as far as developing him. You can’t wait until it’s time to play, and think that they’re going to be ready to roll. The only way you’re going to get experience is by playing.”
Harris’ final stat line for 2023: 37-for-56 passing for 439 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. Seeing action in 28 total games for the Eagles, Harris has compiled this career stat line: 60-for-97 passing for 681 yards and five TDs — and no interceptions.
Harris and the Eagles will face a stern test coming out of the gates next month. NCCU will play in the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami on Labor Day Sunday against Alabama State. The Hornets have been picked to win the SWAC’s East Division. Central, meanwhile, has been tabbed to capture the MEAC trophy.
The Eagles host a top-25 caliber Elon squad in week two, then will visit North Carolina from the ACC before welcoming North Carolina A&T to the Nest for the annual renewal of the Aggie-Eagle Classic.
“We got our work cut out for us, but we’re excited,” Oliver said. “We have a talented football team, and we’re excited about the challenge.”
One of the big reasons for that excitement: Harris, the long-time faithful lieutenant, now ready to assume command of the offense.
“I’ve been here for a while and paid my dues,” Harris told HBCU Gameday after the NC Central spring game in April. “Three years as a backup to Davius was an honor and privilege, but I feel like it’s my time and my moment, and I earned it.”
