Card: Star Pics 1992
Acquired: In Person 1992, Houston Oilers Training Camp
Pending: GameDay 1992, Skybox Impact 1992

Corey Harris was a do it all athlete coming out of Vanderbilt, where he played wingback, flanker and returned both kicks and punts for the Commodores.  He’d be named first team SEC in 1991, with 1103 yards rushing on 229 carries. A super athlete with great agility, the Oilers would take the speedster in the 3rd round and move him to wide receiver/ kick returner, where he was expected to compete in 1992. After a pretty impressive preseason in which he had a kick return for a touchdown, Harris would be mysteriously released after a poor week 4 showing against the Bengals, (that had no affect on the Oilers victory).

He’d be signed by Green Bay and immediately start returning kicks in week 5, holding the job with the Packers through 1995, leading the NFL in kick return average  in 1993 with a 30.1 average.  In 1995, Snake would sign with the Seahawks, and they’d convert him to cornerback to go along with his kick return duties. He’d make his first 3 interceptions that season starting his first full 16 game slate. Harris would play for the ‘Hawks through 1996 and then play with Miami for one largely unremarkable season.

It’d be in 1997 that Corey became a member of the Baltimore Ravens and the team he is perhaps best remembered playing for. The Ravens decided that Harris would be best suited for safety and in addition to his kick returning abilities, he would shine with 35 returns for 965 yards and a touchdown, and also return one pick for a touchdown against New Orleans in Week 12. He’d continue to provide valuable depth for the Ravens, and win a SuperBowl ring after the 2000 season.  He’d start the whole slate of 16 games in 2001, and then sign via free agency with the Detroit Lions, where he’d finish his career after the 2003 season.

I called Corey over by his nickname, which he was really surprised by because he said most fans didn’t know that. Nicknamed ‘Snake’, I’d assume it was because of his uncanny ability to set up blockers, dodge in and out of traffic, and play the screen. A really nice guy, I remember when he saw his card he got really excited as I think that it was the first one he had seen. I was always glued to the TV when he returned kicks, and was really mad when the Oilers cut him. In retrospect I think if the Oilers really knew what to do with him, Harris would have been a valuable asset to the team.

I recently found a few cards of Corey’s that I had that I always wanted to get signed, and sent out to him last month.

G/Gs  183/92      Kr 238           Yds 5528        Avg  23.2    Td 1   Lg 95t   |
Tac 490    Sac 6.5     Fum 9     Int 11      Yds 137    Avg  12.4    Td 1      Lg 49