OCC’s Harris has so much to say

Matt Harris is at peace amid the mayhem, sifting through blockers on his way to the ball, talking smack, making plays, smiling all the while between pain-induced grimaces.

The Orange Coast College middle linebacker enjoys fueling the froth of opposing offensive linemen, jawing at them before the snap, snapping at them after the whistle and, play by punishing play, gnawing at their willingness to engage with the muscle-bound 6-foot-2, 225-pounder in the sporadic Saturday violence.

But when the Pirates’ defense leaves the field tonight in the football season opener at Citrus College at 7, the sophomore out of Mission Viejo High can focus, yet again, on the life force that guides his every waking action. It is in these moments, still heaving from exertion, when the adrenaline wanes to allow the nerve endings in his ravaged shoulders more direct access to the regions of his brain that acknowledge pain, that Harris removes his helmet and reconnects with his mom.

Pat Harris is a familiar figure in the stands at OCC games, though it’s physically taxing for her to be there, since injuring her back 13 years ago.

Working as a nurse, she instinctively jerked away from a patient who lurched toward her to avoid a needle injection. The sudden movement damaged Pat Harris’ lower back and ultimately resulted in nerve damage. She can walk, with the help of a back brace and a cane, but she cannot feel anything below her waist. Worst of all, the nerve damage has resulted in constant pain.

“She keeps me motivated,” Matt Harris said of his mom, whom he honored during the summer with a tattoo on the inner portion of his right upper arm. The tattoo is an image of an eagle, with his mom’s initials across the bottom.

“The eagle is her favorite animal,” he said.

Matt Harris said the constant encouragement provided by his mother, a cosmetics sales person with whom he lives in Lake Forest, is only part of the motivation she delivers.

“She’s a great inspiration,” he said. “Just the way she deals with her situation every day. She has three rods in her back, and 13-inch screws. She’s in pain 24-seven. But she’s a great part of my life.”

Matt Harris said whatever pain he may be feeling, and his shoulders have bothered him since his sophomore year in high school, he is determined to play through it.

“My mom has all the pain in the world,” he said. “She feels like she got run over by a truck. When I think about her, my pain doesn’t come close to that.”

Harris figures to create some pain for ballcarriers this season, after shedding 15 pounds in the offseason and bettering his time in the 40-yard dash to 4.65 seconds, more than a second faster than last year.

“He’s in great shape and going full bore,” OCC Defensive Coordinator Scott Orloff said of Harris, who started the latter half of last season and finished with 56 tackles, fourth-most on the team. “He’s physical, he’s fearless, he’s smart and he has great instincts. He’s just a football player. I think being much faster this year, he’s going to be hard to block. He’s good enough to get by blockers without having to take them on.”

Taking opponents on, however, is the best thing about the game, said Harris, whom Orloff and OCC Coach Mike Taylor both say will ultimately succeed at the Division I level.

In the Aug. 24 preseason scrimmage against West Los Angeles, Harris stood out. He forced a fumble, batted down a pass and produced the biggest hit of the day, leveling a ballcarrier near the sideline.

“That was a great feeling,” Harris said of the big hit in the scrimmage game. “I love hitting people.”

Harris’ passion on the field, as well as his mouth, often lead to him getting hit by frustrated opponents.

“I talk to guys, trying to get them upset and get inside their head,” Harris said. “I talk to them before the play and after the play. I usually have to keep it clean, because the [official] is lined up about a yard behind me.”

Harris said he has even angered teammates in practice.

“I’ve had a couple fights with our offensive linemen,” he said. “And in games, I’ve had guys punch me and try to get their hands up under my face mask. I have to sock them back, though it may be a few plays later.”

Ultimately, Harris said he shares respect for his opponents.

“It’s all smiles after the game and I don’t hold any grudges,” he said. “I was raised to be a different person off the field. I try to get good grades.”

Many believe Harris will make the grade in football for years to come.

“I can’t imagine having two better ’backers than [Shaun] Mohler [an All-American outside linebacker last season who has verbally committed to play at Nebraska next season] and Harris,” Orloff said. “If [Harris] has the kind of year I think he’s going to have, he’s going to get a lot of scholarship offers.”