Indiana University Athletics
Graham Notebook: Harris II Using Positive Mindset in Third Rebab Stint
6/20/2018 10:32:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The third time still isn't charming.
J-Shun Harris II knows it for what it is.
Which is not the sort of expertise he wanted to acquire.
Harris, an Indiana football fifth-year senior and profile in courage, knows how to evaluate and gauge the rehabilitation of anterior-cruciate-ligament knee injuries.
And his current rehab is coming along quite nicely, thank you very much.
Harris met the media on Tuesday to discuss his pending on-field return for the Hoosiers this fall in the wake of his third ACL tear since arriving on the Bloomington campus in 2014.
The latest injury was sustained in his right knee last Nov. 10 against Maryland. In 2016, it was his left knee, injured during preseason camp. In 2015, the first ACL tear to his right knee came during summer workouts and led to a medical redshirt year.
Three ACL tears in as many years. That would have derailed athletic careers for many. Harris was merely delayed.
"It's something about the sport, man," Harris said of his repeated returns to football. "I was blessed with the opportunity to play here on a full ride. Just being a part of this atmosphere, it's hard to get rid of. It was a no-brainer.
"My family gets to watch me play again. If I can sacrifice now to be a shining light for someone who's been through it and for them to know that they can go through it and progress through it if they keep the right mindset, then I get the joy out of that.
Harris acknowledged that the third ACL tear was initially, unsurprisingly, daunting.
"Of course, there was a little doubt in the beginning," he said. "I have to thank my family and, specifically, Collin Francis, one of the former trainers who's now with the Ravens … he could see it in my face a little bit that I was questioning it a little bit, but I still wanted to. He gave me that extra, 'Yo, we're doing this.' That helped out a lot.
It also helped that Harris had come back full go, still fleet afoot, from his previous injuries.
"With the first one, it was a little lag in the process," he said of his 2015 rehab. "But on No. 2 and this one, it's been pretty smooth. I feel strong. I feel fast. It seems like every time I can come back and run similar speed.
"With the training that we have now, doing some different things and focusing on some more smaller details, stuff has really been working out really well."
To the point Harris said he is "90 to 100 percent (physically recovered), in that range, to be honest." He then elaborated:
"At this point, I'm doing everything in the weight room: squatting, power cleaning," Harris said. "Out in our practices, I'm doing individual (activities). They kind of gradually get me into the 7-on-7, but at this point, I'm very capable of doing it. Here's someone who should be 100 percent full-go."
Harris has always impressed when 100 percent.
He was twice named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week last fall before injury intervened. His 44-yard punt-return touchdown with 5:56 left clinched IU's 34-17 win at Virginia, then followed that up with a 70-yard score versus Georgia Southern. He was leading the Big Ten in punt returns with a 19.0 average when he went out.
Harris was already an asset as a true freshman. His 33-yard TD reception helped fuel the Hoosiers' win at No. 18-ranked Missouri. He returned six kicks for a career-high 125 yards against Rutgers. He was Freshman All-Big Ten and IU's Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
In the interim, he's learned how to handle and overcome serious injury.
"I wouldn't say easier, but smoother -- knowing what and what not to do," Harris said of his third go-round with ACL rehab. "The first time, they tell you not to have your leg bent a little bit and of course, that's the way it feels good so I was doing that a little bit, but the second and third, I knew if I went through that pain early, then the outcome would be pretty smooth."
And he learned how to stay sharp mentally and buoyed emotionally.
"I used to go in the receiver room to watch old film to keep my mind (sharp) and tell myself that I'm able to do that," he said.
"I'm thankful for the success I had back there at punt return this year. I was able to go watch that stuff again and keep my hopes up high and keep myself motivated.
"The mental part, I'd say after the first one and the second one, it was a little tough. This third one, once I made my mind up I knew once the mental part was out of it, I was good to go."
Harris went home to Fishers a couple of weekends back and got some help in that regard from his mom, Stephanie Peterson, whom he described as "my biggest fan." She pulled up his TD against Charleston Southern on YouTube.
"We watched it again together and I continue to watch it," Harris said. "Just learning different things and continuing to give myself that affirmation that I've been through it before and I can go out there and do it again.
"It's almost like deja vu, to be honest. Hopefully, it's the end, but the past couple years it's seemed like a dream that keeps happening. The first one is always the toughest and, thankfully, I've had a strong enough support system to help me out throughout the process."
He counts IU head coach Tom Allen and receivers coach Grant Heard among prominent members of his support system.
"They always believed in me," Harris said of Indiana's staff, "especially Coach Heard and Coach Allen. They always asked me if I wanted to do this. I told them I wanted to and
I guess I proved over time that I (stand) by that word.
"They never altered their idea of if I was going to play or not. They've been pretty understanding throughout the process. Once I told them it was a go, thankfully they wanted me back to play and represent this great university."
A university that should feel honored to be represented by J-Shun Harris.
WHERE FOR ART THOU, MADISON?
They are the same height, at 6-foot-5, but don't actually look much alike.
And even though Indiana freshman defensive end Madison Norris has a hairdo somewhat reminiscent of heralded IU basketball recruit Romeo Langford, it's decidedly different. Norris has blond highlights at the top of his coif, while Langford currently sports an all-blonde look.
But …
"For the past two weeks, before he got here, I've been mistaken for him ALL the time," Norris said of Langford, with some laughing exasperation, to media members Tuesday.
"I went into WalMart and had a group of about 15 people come up to me like I was him, and I had to walk out of WalMart and didn't even get my stuff."
Norris and Langford do have some things in common. Both are, for example, superb athletes.
Norris won the Indiana state 110-meter hurdles title this past spring in :14.2 and also helped the Royals to a second-place state finish in the 4-x-100 sprint relay.
Not necessarily the sort of things associated with defensive linemen, which amounts to a unique upside for Norris in the eyes of IU's coaches.
"They said I can be impact (player) because I'm a lot faster than the other linemen are," Norris said. "They've always had a bunch of big guys, but never have really had people fast like me.
"I think I can separate myself because I'm a lot faster … I'd like to bring a lot of speed to the line, since I'm not all that big right now. I can show a little more speed. Most of these (offensive) tackles are used to big, meaty guys. I want to bring a little more quickness, get to the quarterback quicker."
Norris currently weighs in at 198 pounds and hopes to be at least 210 heading into fall camp. He's taking in a prescribed 5,000 calories a day.
"I've already gained seven pounds in the past week," he said.
He also finds himself adjusting readily to the rigors of collegiate student-athlete life.
"I'm actually taking it pretty well," Norris said of the transition from home and high school. "I thought I'd be pretty homesick and wouldn't get used to it for a while but, actually, I've adjusted to it pretty quickly in like just a week or two. So it's pretty easy for me now."
It doesn't hurt that he's enjoying having his teammates around. Asked to cite a particularly entertaining personality among his peers, Norris replied:
"I think it's James Miller. He's the funniest dude I've ever met, to be honest. Once you get around him – I can't even be around him sometimes. I have to go to my room and lock the door because he makes me laugh too hard."
Maybe Norris can get together with Langford soon and share some laughs.
LOOKING TO CAP THINGS OFF RIGHT
IU freshman offensive lineman Aidan Rafferty hails from Gonzaga College Prep in Kensington, Md.
The Washington D.C. area.
So you'd best believe Rafferty was riding the emotional rollercoaster during the recently concluded National Hockey League playoffs, with the Washington Capitals securing their first-ever Stanley Cup.
"Oh, yeah, I am Caps fan," Raffery said Tuesday. "I was actually at the Stanley Cup (viewing party to watch the Caps clinch the Cup in Las Vegas) when we won. Down at Capital Arena."
And while that made Rafferty happy, he finds himself getting happier by the day as he starts his college experience at Indiana.
"Actually, it's been really easy, because the guys have been really good about it," Rafferty said of his move far from home. "Everybody has been really welcoming. The coaches, the strength staff. I just get happier every day I'm here. I love it."
Rafferty and mom Michele drove around Bloomington a couple of weeks back and liked what they saw. "We were really shocked at like how beautiful and big it was," he said.
"Just another good thing that surprised me.
"It kind of reminds me of Maryland, the state, just in terms of landscape around here. People are so nice to me, and were every time I visited. Loved it."
Rafferty also relishes joining an IU offensive line that returns its entire 2017 depth chart while welcoming some well-regarded newcomers.
"They've all been great, talking to me in the team meeting rooms and the O-line room," Rafferty said of the Hoosier veterans. "They stay with the four kids coming in in my freshman class. They'll stay with us and watch film with us and break down the offense, which has been so helpful."
It was helpful, regarding Rafferty's recruiting situation, that he gained around 40 pounds between his sophomore and junior years in high school.
"I was more explosive and powerful off the ball, which a lot of coaches liked," Rafferty said, adding that IU head coach Tom Allen and offensive line coach Darren Hiller specifically like "my height and my length for, probably, tackle. They like my athleticism."
Rafferty is listed at 6-6, 271. He figures that latter number will go up soon.
"I'm a little lower (in terms of weight) than I want to be, but I'm in pretty good running shape," he said. "No doubt the strength staff will put a lot of weight on me."
All the better to throw his weight around, as do his hockey heroes. Asked to name his favorite Caps, Rafferty replied: "Oh, Alex Ovechkin. And Tom Wilson. Wilson takes no prisoners."
THE DOCTOR IS IN
IU speed specialist Dr. Matt Rhea noted via Twitter this week that while Indiana had five football players capable of running over 20 miles per hour last year, since Rhea and director of athletic performance David Ballou took over in January, that number has now risen to 25 players.
And the Hoosier freshmen are realizing that IU's conditioning program is a whole different deal.
"This has been a complete turnaround on everything that I've done in the past," said Norris. "There is no way you can prepare for this. Every day is a workout, every single day.
There is no easy day.
"I wasn't ready for the weights. That's the only thing. From the first day … I kind of thought about my life … they have me doing a lot more stuff that I can transfer to the football field, instead of just getting bigger, like my other strength coaches had me do."
Shamar Jones, a freshman defensive tackle from Johnstown, Pa., struck a similar note.
"It's crazy," Jones said of the conditioning. "Hard. I wasn't ready. I didn't think it'd be this hard. Got to set my mind for it. It's really different, the lifting, and the running is crazy.
It's all new to me.
"The intensity. It was like a smack to me. Really hard. And I have to prepare myself mentally … it's a huge step. In high school, I didn't really take it all that serious in the weight room. I was just based off talent. I'd just go out there and (dominate) my opponent."
Rhea and Ballou have made it clear they want their linemen to be fast, too.
"I don't think they take it easy on the lineman," Jones said. "If anything, they're harder on us."
IT'S LIKE A HEAT WAVE
Freshman defensive backs Noah Pierre and Jamar Johnson, who also both met the media Tuesday, are among the 27 Floridians currently listed on the IU football roster.
Both acknowledged they didn't mind this week's 90-degree heat and humidity one bit. It reminded them of home.
Pierre expressed that sentiment about the conditions while bearing interesting attire.
"As you can see," he said, "I've got on a jacket."
Not hot and humid enough, apparently.
J-Shun Harris II knows it for what it is.
Which is not the sort of expertise he wanted to acquire.
Harris, an Indiana football fifth-year senior and profile in courage, knows how to evaluate and gauge the rehabilitation of anterior-cruciate-ligament knee injuries.
And his current rehab is coming along quite nicely, thank you very much.
Harris met the media on Tuesday to discuss his pending on-field return for the Hoosiers this fall in the wake of his third ACL tear since arriving on the Bloomington campus in 2014.
The latest injury was sustained in his right knee last Nov. 10 against Maryland. In 2016, it was his left knee, injured during preseason camp. In 2015, the first ACL tear to his right knee came during summer workouts and led to a medical redshirt year.
Three ACL tears in as many years. That would have derailed athletic careers for many. Harris was merely delayed.
"It's something about the sport, man," Harris said of his repeated returns to football. "I was blessed with the opportunity to play here on a full ride. Just being a part of this atmosphere, it's hard to get rid of. It was a no-brainer.
"My family gets to watch me play again. If I can sacrifice now to be a shining light for someone who's been through it and for them to know that they can go through it and progress through it if they keep the right mindset, then I get the joy out of that.
Harris acknowledged that the third ACL tear was initially, unsurprisingly, daunting.
"Of course, there was a little doubt in the beginning," he said. "I have to thank my family and, specifically, Collin Francis, one of the former trainers who's now with the Ravens … he could see it in my face a little bit that I was questioning it a little bit, but I still wanted to. He gave me that extra, 'Yo, we're doing this.' That helped out a lot.
It also helped that Harris had come back full go, still fleet afoot, from his previous injuries.
"With the first one, it was a little lag in the process," he said of his 2015 rehab. "But on No. 2 and this one, it's been pretty smooth. I feel strong. I feel fast. It seems like every time I can come back and run similar speed.
"With the training that we have now, doing some different things and focusing on some more smaller details, stuff has really been working out really well."
To the point Harris said he is "90 to 100 percent (physically recovered), in that range, to be honest." He then elaborated:
"At this point, I'm doing everything in the weight room: squatting, power cleaning," Harris said. "Out in our practices, I'm doing individual (activities). They kind of gradually get me into the 7-on-7, but at this point, I'm very capable of doing it. Here's someone who should be 100 percent full-go."
Harris has always impressed when 100 percent.
He was twice named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week last fall before injury intervened. His 44-yard punt-return touchdown with 5:56 left clinched IU's 34-17 win at Virginia, then followed that up with a 70-yard score versus Georgia Southern. He was leading the Big Ten in punt returns with a 19.0 average when he went out.
Harris was already an asset as a true freshman. His 33-yard TD reception helped fuel the Hoosiers' win at No. 18-ranked Missouri. He returned six kicks for a career-high 125 yards against Rutgers. He was Freshman All-Big Ten and IU's Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
In the interim, he's learned how to handle and overcome serious injury.
"I wouldn't say easier, but smoother -- knowing what and what not to do," Harris said of his third go-round with ACL rehab. "The first time, they tell you not to have your leg bent a little bit and of course, that's the way it feels good so I was doing that a little bit, but the second and third, I knew if I went through that pain early, then the outcome would be pretty smooth."
And he learned how to stay sharp mentally and buoyed emotionally.
"I used to go in the receiver room to watch old film to keep my mind (sharp) and tell myself that I'm able to do that," he said.
"I'm thankful for the success I had back there at punt return this year. I was able to go watch that stuff again and keep my hopes up high and keep myself motivated.
"The mental part, I'd say after the first one and the second one, it was a little tough. This third one, once I made my mind up I knew once the mental part was out of it, I was good to go."
Harris went home to Fishers a couple of weekends back and got some help in that regard from his mom, Stephanie Peterson, whom he described as "my biggest fan." She pulled up his TD against Charleston Southern on YouTube.
"We watched it again together and I continue to watch it," Harris said. "Just learning different things and continuing to give myself that affirmation that I've been through it before and I can go out there and do it again.
"It's almost like deja vu, to be honest. Hopefully, it's the end, but the past couple years it's seemed like a dream that keeps happening. The first one is always the toughest and, thankfully, I've had a strong enough support system to help me out throughout the process."
He counts IU head coach Tom Allen and receivers coach Grant Heard among prominent members of his support system.
"They always believed in me," Harris said of Indiana's staff, "especially Coach Heard and Coach Allen. They always asked me if I wanted to do this. I told them I wanted to and
I guess I proved over time that I (stand) by that word.
"They never altered their idea of if I was going to play or not. They've been pretty understanding throughout the process. Once I told them it was a go, thankfully they wanted me back to play and represent this great university."
A university that should feel honored to be represented by J-Shun Harris.
WHERE FOR ART THOU, MADISON?
They are the same height, at 6-foot-5, but don't actually look much alike.
And even though Indiana freshman defensive end Madison Norris has a hairdo somewhat reminiscent of heralded IU basketball recruit Romeo Langford, it's decidedly different. Norris has blond highlights at the top of his coif, while Langford currently sports an all-blonde look.
But …
"For the past two weeks, before he got here, I've been mistaken for him ALL the time," Norris said of Langford, with some laughing exasperation, to media members Tuesday.
"I went into WalMart and had a group of about 15 people come up to me like I was him, and I had to walk out of WalMart and didn't even get my stuff."
Norris and Langford do have some things in common. Both are, for example, superb athletes.
Norris won the Indiana state 110-meter hurdles title this past spring in :14.2 and also helped the Royals to a second-place state finish in the 4-x-100 sprint relay.
Not necessarily the sort of things associated with defensive linemen, which amounts to a unique upside for Norris in the eyes of IU's coaches.
"They said I can be impact (player) because I'm a lot faster than the other linemen are," Norris said. "They've always had a bunch of big guys, but never have really had people fast like me.
"I think I can separate myself because I'm a lot faster … I'd like to bring a lot of speed to the line, since I'm not all that big right now. I can show a little more speed. Most of these (offensive) tackles are used to big, meaty guys. I want to bring a little more quickness, get to the quarterback quicker."
Norris currently weighs in at 198 pounds and hopes to be at least 210 heading into fall camp. He's taking in a prescribed 5,000 calories a day.
"I've already gained seven pounds in the past week," he said.
He also finds himself adjusting readily to the rigors of collegiate student-athlete life.
"I'm actually taking it pretty well," Norris said of the transition from home and high school. "I thought I'd be pretty homesick and wouldn't get used to it for a while but, actually, I've adjusted to it pretty quickly in like just a week or two. So it's pretty easy for me now."
It doesn't hurt that he's enjoying having his teammates around. Asked to cite a particularly entertaining personality among his peers, Norris replied:
"I think it's James Miller. He's the funniest dude I've ever met, to be honest. Once you get around him – I can't even be around him sometimes. I have to go to my room and lock the door because he makes me laugh too hard."
Maybe Norris can get together with Langford soon and share some laughs.
LOOKING TO CAP THINGS OFF RIGHT
IU freshman offensive lineman Aidan Rafferty hails from Gonzaga College Prep in Kensington, Md.
The Washington D.C. area.
So you'd best believe Rafferty was riding the emotional rollercoaster during the recently concluded National Hockey League playoffs, with the Washington Capitals securing their first-ever Stanley Cup.
"Oh, yeah, I am Caps fan," Raffery said Tuesday. "I was actually at the Stanley Cup (viewing party to watch the Caps clinch the Cup in Las Vegas) when we won. Down at Capital Arena."
And while that made Rafferty happy, he finds himself getting happier by the day as he starts his college experience at Indiana.
"Actually, it's been really easy, because the guys have been really good about it," Rafferty said of his move far from home. "Everybody has been really welcoming. The coaches, the strength staff. I just get happier every day I'm here. I love it."
Rafferty and mom Michele drove around Bloomington a couple of weeks back and liked what they saw. "We were really shocked at like how beautiful and big it was," he said.
"Just another good thing that surprised me.
"It kind of reminds me of Maryland, the state, just in terms of landscape around here. People are so nice to me, and were every time I visited. Loved it."
Rafferty also relishes joining an IU offensive line that returns its entire 2017 depth chart while welcoming some well-regarded newcomers.
"They've all been great, talking to me in the team meeting rooms and the O-line room," Rafferty said of the Hoosier veterans. "They stay with the four kids coming in in my freshman class. They'll stay with us and watch film with us and break down the offense, which has been so helpful."
It was helpful, regarding Rafferty's recruiting situation, that he gained around 40 pounds between his sophomore and junior years in high school.
"I was more explosive and powerful off the ball, which a lot of coaches liked," Rafferty said, adding that IU head coach Tom Allen and offensive line coach Darren Hiller specifically like "my height and my length for, probably, tackle. They like my athleticism."
Rafferty is listed at 6-6, 271. He figures that latter number will go up soon.
"I'm a little lower (in terms of weight) than I want to be, but I'm in pretty good running shape," he said. "No doubt the strength staff will put a lot of weight on me."
All the better to throw his weight around, as do his hockey heroes. Asked to name his favorite Caps, Rafferty replied: "Oh, Alex Ovechkin. And Tom Wilson. Wilson takes no prisoners."
THE DOCTOR IS IN
IU speed specialist Dr. Matt Rhea noted via Twitter this week that while Indiana had five football players capable of running over 20 miles per hour last year, since Rhea and director of athletic performance David Ballou took over in January, that number has now risen to 25 players.
And the Hoosier freshmen are realizing that IU's conditioning program is a whole different deal.
"This has been a complete turnaround on everything that I've done in the past," said Norris. "There is no way you can prepare for this. Every day is a workout, every single day.
There is no easy day.
"I wasn't ready for the weights. That's the only thing. From the first day … I kind of thought about my life … they have me doing a lot more stuff that I can transfer to the football field, instead of just getting bigger, like my other strength coaches had me do."
Shamar Jones, a freshman defensive tackle from Johnstown, Pa., struck a similar note.
"It's crazy," Jones said of the conditioning. "Hard. I wasn't ready. I didn't think it'd be this hard. Got to set my mind for it. It's really different, the lifting, and the running is crazy.
It's all new to me.
"The intensity. It was like a smack to me. Really hard. And I have to prepare myself mentally … it's a huge step. In high school, I didn't really take it all that serious in the weight room. I was just based off talent. I'd just go out there and (dominate) my opponent."
Rhea and Ballou have made it clear they want their linemen to be fast, too.
"I don't think they take it easy on the lineman," Jones said. "If anything, they're harder on us."
IT'S LIKE A HEAT WAVE
Freshman defensive backs Noah Pierre and Jamar Johnson, who also both met the media Tuesday, are among the 27 Floridians currently listed on the IU football roster.
Both acknowledged they didn't mind this week's 90-degree heat and humidity one bit. It reminded them of home.
Pierre expressed that sentiment about the conditions while bearing interesting attire.
"As you can see," he said, "I've got on a jacket."
Not hot and humid enough, apparently.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ FootballFB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (11/4/25_
Tuesday, November 04
FB: Isaiah Jones Media Availability (11/4/25)
Tuesday, November 04
FB: Week 11 (at Penn State) - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Monday, November 03
FB: Week 10 (at Maryland) - Curt Cignetti Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, November 01