Post by fwp on Apr 29, 2010 18:09:51 GMT -5
www.pantagraph.com/sports/football/professional/arena/extreme/article_04f8cd6e-5338-11df-9c8e-001cc4c03286.html
BLOOMINGTON — Justin Harrison doesn’t have to go looking for a park.
Bloomington Extreme coach Kenton Carr is welcoming back the former Bloomington High School and University of Illinois standout with open arms.
The Extreme (3-4) announced Wednesday that Harrison has been signed and will play in Saturday’s Indoor Football League game at Omaha (2-4). The 5-foot-11, 220-pound Harrison, who is a strength and conditioning coach for the Illini football team, played linebacker for the Extreme last season.
“There’s nowhere else you can go and play pickup football and be with guys who want to play football throughout the community in Champaign and Bloomington,” said the 23-year-old Harrison. “If I couldn’t play with the Extreme I would probably be out in the park with some kids throwing the ball around.”
Harrison couldn’t have played with the Extreme earlier because the Illini were involved in spring football practice. With Illinois holding its spring game last weekend, Harrison now has Saturdays free for a couple months.
That works out well for Carr.
“We haven’t been as physical as we would like,” said Carr. “He will get us there.”
Another former Illini player, Joe Bevis, has been the Extreme’s starting linebacker. Carr anticipates playing both Harrison and Bevis, who is third in the IFL with 68 tackles.
“They’re two different style linebackers, and we’ll use them accordingly,” said Carr. “Justin is the more physical of the two. Bevis is more finesse and a good cover guy.”
Harrison ranked second on the Extreme last season with 65.5 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He helped Bloomington form the league’s top defensive unit, holding opponents to a league-low 26 points per game.
The Extreme defense has allowed 33.6 points per game this season.
“I haven’t gained a pound (from last year) and am probably stronger than I was last year coming off the winter program (with the Illini),” said Harrison. “I wasn’t necessarily out running as in the weight room lifting. I’ve been doing things with the strength staff trying out new exercises and new things for the guys.”
Carr isn’t worried about Harrison’s physical conditioning. Harrison attended his first practice with the Extreme on Tuesday.
“The biggest adjustment will be to our calls and maybe reacting as a linebacker,” said Carr. “But it won’t take long at all. He’ll make a mistake or two, but he’ll make up for it.”
Harrison got a call from Carr after Saturday’s Illini Spring Game asking him if he would be interested in returning.
“It wasn’t any sales pitch like what we have or what we need. It was do you want to play,” said Harrison. “I was free this weekend so I’ll be out there.
“I just plan on having fun this weekend. If I’m out there next weekend it’s a blessing. We didn’t talk about a commitment on what games I can make or not. It’s a matter of coming out and playing with the guys.”
Harrison was known as a hard-hitting safety with the Illini and finished his career with 284 tackles, six forced fumbles and four interceptions. He capped his collegiate career by playing in the 2008 Rose Bowl against USC.
Harrison signed with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent and later spent time in training camp with the New Orleans Saints before being released because of a hamstring injury.
Secondary getting back: Carr believes his defensive secondary will be in better shape this week than it was last Friday during a 56-41 loss to Rochester in Henrietta, N.Y.
James Temple and Terrill Mayberry couldn’t make the trip. B.J. Brown was out with a hamstring injury, while David Darby also hurt his hamstring in the game. Darby is questionable for Saturday’s game.
“We were missing four defensive backs. People don’t realize how important that is,” said Carr. “Defensive backs are all about communication. That really hurt us.”
BLOOMINGTON — Justin Harrison doesn’t have to go looking for a park.
Bloomington Extreme coach Kenton Carr is welcoming back the former Bloomington High School and University of Illinois standout with open arms.
The Extreme (3-4) announced Wednesday that Harrison has been signed and will play in Saturday’s Indoor Football League game at Omaha (2-4). The 5-foot-11, 220-pound Harrison, who is a strength and conditioning coach for the Illini football team, played linebacker for the Extreme last season.
“There’s nowhere else you can go and play pickup football and be with guys who want to play football throughout the community in Champaign and Bloomington,” said the 23-year-old Harrison. “If I couldn’t play with the Extreme I would probably be out in the park with some kids throwing the ball around.”
Harrison couldn’t have played with the Extreme earlier because the Illini were involved in spring football practice. With Illinois holding its spring game last weekend, Harrison now has Saturdays free for a couple months.
That works out well for Carr.
“We haven’t been as physical as we would like,” said Carr. “He will get us there.”
Another former Illini player, Joe Bevis, has been the Extreme’s starting linebacker. Carr anticipates playing both Harrison and Bevis, who is third in the IFL with 68 tackles.
“They’re two different style linebackers, and we’ll use them accordingly,” said Carr. “Justin is the more physical of the two. Bevis is more finesse and a good cover guy.”
Harrison ranked second on the Extreme last season with 65.5 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He helped Bloomington form the league’s top defensive unit, holding opponents to a league-low 26 points per game.
The Extreme defense has allowed 33.6 points per game this season.
“I haven’t gained a pound (from last year) and am probably stronger than I was last year coming off the winter program (with the Illini),” said Harrison. “I wasn’t necessarily out running as in the weight room lifting. I’ve been doing things with the strength staff trying out new exercises and new things for the guys.”
Carr isn’t worried about Harrison’s physical conditioning. Harrison attended his first practice with the Extreme on Tuesday.
“The biggest adjustment will be to our calls and maybe reacting as a linebacker,” said Carr. “But it won’t take long at all. He’ll make a mistake or two, but he’ll make up for it.”
Harrison got a call from Carr after Saturday’s Illini Spring Game asking him if he would be interested in returning.
“It wasn’t any sales pitch like what we have or what we need. It was do you want to play,” said Harrison. “I was free this weekend so I’ll be out there.
“I just plan on having fun this weekend. If I’m out there next weekend it’s a blessing. We didn’t talk about a commitment on what games I can make or not. It’s a matter of coming out and playing with the guys.”
Harrison was known as a hard-hitting safety with the Illini and finished his career with 284 tackles, six forced fumbles and four interceptions. He capped his collegiate career by playing in the 2008 Rose Bowl against USC.
Harrison signed with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent and later spent time in training camp with the New Orleans Saints before being released because of a hamstring injury.
Secondary getting back: Carr believes his defensive secondary will be in better shape this week than it was last Friday during a 56-41 loss to Rochester in Henrietta, N.Y.
James Temple and Terrill Mayberry couldn’t make the trip. B.J. Brown was out with a hamstring injury, while David Darby also hurt his hamstring in the game. Darby is questionable for Saturday’s game.
“We were missing four defensive backs. People don’t realize how important that is,” said Carr. “Defensive backs are all about communication. That really hurt us.”