Sophomore Linebacker Just Second USF Player To Lead The Nation In A Statistical Category Joining George Selvie (2007)
TAMPA, FEB. 12, 2015 – USF linebacker Nigel Harris (Tampa), a rising junior, has officially been named a 2014-15 NCAA FBS statistical champion and he and the school will receive plaques from the NCAA commemorating the achievement.
Harris led the nation with .55 forced fumbles per game during the 2014 season as he set a USF season record with six forced fumbles on the year while playing in 11 games. Harris becomes just the second USF football player to lead the NCAA in a statistical category for a season. He joins two-time All-American defensive end George Selvie (Pensecola) who led the nation with 2.42 tackles for loss per game (31.5 total) in the 2007 season. The 2007 Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Selvie was subsequently selected in the 2010 NFL Draft and currently plays for the Dallas Cowboys.
Harris returns for the Bulls defense after a fantastic sophomore season in which he finished second on the team with 77 tackles (52 solo) and led the Bulls and finished sixth in the AAC with 10.5 tackles for loss. He also tied the for the team lead and ranked seventh in the AAC with two fumble recoveries and added two sacks on the year while leading the team in tackles in three games and twice posting a season-high 11 stops. Harris was named AAC Defensive Player of the Week after posting a team-high nine tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a sack vs. Maryland.
USF returns 14 starters (6 offense, 7 defense and 1 specialist) for Taggart's third season at the helm. The Bulls will return their top five tacklers (9 the top 12 overall) and players that accounted for 73 percent of the team's tackles in 2014. USF returns 100 percent of its rushing and passing yardage from 2014, including 1,000-yard rusher Marlon Mack, and 50 percent of its receptions and receiving yards.
The USF Football program completed its 18th season and 15th at the FBS level. The Bulls have made six bowl appearances, including every season between 2005-10, and have four bowl game victories. USF has produced 14 All-America selections, 23 NFL Draft picks and reached the No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press Poll in 2007.
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