Blake Harris Prepares For NFL Opportunity

By Next Level Combines Staff

At a time when most professional football prospects are sleeping, NFL hopeful Blake Harris is training for the upcoming NFL Regional Combine. The NFL Regional Combines are used as a way for athletes to show the NFL that they have the size and speed to play on Sundays.  Athletes that do well at the NFL Regional Combine are invited to NFL Super Regional that will take place at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.  Scouts from all 32 NFL teams will be present at the NFL Super Regional. Harris will be attending the March 29 combine that will take place in Indianapolis, home to the NFL Combine.  Harris reflects on what has gotten him to this point, he thinks about both the difficulties and successes that have driven him.

 Harris has had his share of doubters and pessimists, From coaches and sometimes even from other players. In high school, Harris had a coach tell him, “You will never play in college or have a chance at playing professionally”.  Something a coach should never tell a player.  In high school and throughout college, this statement was the fuel that lead to long workouts and brutal training sessions. Harris' main motivation at that time was to prove to himself, his family, and the skeptics, that with hard work, dedication, and passion you can reach your goals.  After accomplishing these feats, Harris knows he has a bigger goal at stake, a contract with an NFL team. Harris' success lies heavily with his background.

 Harris started playing football at the age of six for the Pleasant View Steelers after missing his first year due to his small frame. Blake can remember the times his dad would yell at him and say, “you had better suck it up and get back in there.” 

Over the years, this small frame would grow into a solid 240-pound figure. After youth ball, Blake decided to attend Goodpasture Christian High School in Madison, Tennessee. Eventually, Harris would go on to win a state championship in his first year of High School play. This set the tempo for the winning desire in Harris.

After high school, Harris took a year off to train. He then submitted film and a recruiting package to 30 colleges and received three scholarship offers, enrolling at Tennessee States University. After college, he played for the Nashville Storm, a Nationality ranked semi- professional team know for developing elite players. While being a member of the three time national Champions; Harris learned how to be a team player and what it takes to build a winning program. He stated that winning those championships with the Nashville Storm and being a major contributor was a great feeling. It reminded Harris of former high school days of what it felt like to be a winner.

” It really felt good for a group of different guys from different backgrounds to come together to do something special, especially on multiple occasions. It was an honor “

Harris success on the semi- pro level caught the attention of professional indoor football team the Evansville Rage. Harris went on to sign his first professional contract for the Rage and was a valuable member to the team and community.  This was a great experience for Harris, while it was not the NFL; it was a step in the right direction.

 “I really learned how play in confined space. I definite think it helped enhanced my skill and better prepared me for working with little or no room.

After a successful stint with the Rage, Harris received a professional contract with the Georgia Blaze. A professional football team in NSFL or National Spring Football League. The contract offered players housing, four hundred dollars per game with a one hundred-dollar win bonus, and a chance to be noticed by NFL scouts on a consistence basis. A great start for any player working his way to the NFL. As camp approach, Harris prepared for the Blaze training camp.

With his training gear packed and ready to go, the four-hour drive from Nashville to Atlanta seemed like a 6 hour drive for the anxious Harris. This was the opportunity that Harris needed. Harris could finally show scouts that he could compete with NFL caliber players. However, this day would never come. Financial problems would force the league to fold before the season ever began. It was a major setback for Harris, but this would not stop his desire to play at a higher level.

“The pain of being offered opportunity only to see it fade away. It was tough, but I will keep working until I reach my destiny.”

The 26 years old decided to go all out for his NFL dreams after gathering enough video footage and lowering his combine numbers to catch the eye of coaches. Harris has set lofty goals for himself both mentally and physically. In Blake’s career, he has experience at multiple positions; lining up at fullback, linebacker, long snapper, special teams, and he even played offensive lineman in high school.  Harris uses this same versatility in his training regimen.

 Blake's training consists of a variety of workouts that are outside the football realm.  Blake takes techniques from other sports like cross fit, strongman, and bodybuilding to build a solid but agile frame. Blake noticed that when you train in other sports you could also improve your football IQ and learn ways to get an advantage over your opponent.

Blake is a very hard worker in the weight room and on the field. Harris' strength feats include a 425-pound bench, 535 Squat, and a 505-pound deadlift.  This is matched with a 4.8 forty, a 7.02 3-cone drill and 32 inch vertical leap; numbers matching that of other great NFL Fullbacks.

Harris is currently in the best shape of his life.  He is on a mission to show scouts that has the speed and strength to contribute to an NFL program. Harris travels across the country with his dad, training with the best trainers and athletes to learn the skills needed to lower his times for that special day. However, these trips are more than a bonding experience with his dad; it is training for the toughest interview of his life.  When asked what his motivation was, Harris stated that it is no one particular thing but several goals that keeps him motivated.

“The struggle and sacrifice that my parents have been through has really motivated me to give them everything I've got. The support that they have showed me, I know that I have to make something great for myself. My dad has really set the standard high. He has been married for 32 years, works two jobs, and has been by my side the entire journey”.  I do not want this to all be for nothing. I know someday my hard work will be worth it.”

For most NFL Combine prospects, sacrifices are expected as they ready for the most important interview of their career. For Harris, his determination has taken him so far as to give a majority of his time and effort to the game he started playing at such a young age. This decision now means that he has to be very precise on his diet, sacrifice long hours in the weight room, and little to no social life.

“It is a sacrifice for sure, but I know that working with experts in my field would be and investment in myself and my future. I definitely think it is worth it in the end. My family and friends have invested a lot of time and money in helping me reach my dream. I will not let them down.”

Harris states that his body has acclimated to the intense workouts and conditioning that he has put his body through. After years of non-stop training, it has become a daily routine.

Harris is also helping others realize their potential. Currently a wellness coach for the YMCA, Blake is involve in showing others that they can also reach their goals, despite the obstacles that may stand in their way. Harris motivates others toward a healthy lifestyle and promotes education within his community. It is a long way's away from living the luxurious lifestyle of an NFL superstar but he knows his efforts will leave a positive impact on the community.

Harris is hoping to support his mother and his father with an NFL contract. Harris recalls his mom and dad both working two jobs living in a cramped one-bed room apartment, often sleeping on his parent’s couch in order to save enough money to fund his training.

Rain, sleet, or snow, nothing's going to stop Harris as he embarks on a journey of a lifetime. He has gotten bigger and stronger during this whole process and he spends a majority of his time focusing on making his dream a reality. Every workout brings him a step closer to being able to support his family. Harris hopes that coaches can see that he can be a valuable team member.

“With all of the sacrifices that my parents have made, I definitely want to make them proud! 

 

John Thermidor, "No Struggle, No Progress"

#84 Fresh and always ready.. John Thermidor

by, Jasmine Ng,

“With hard work I can get anywhere I want to where I put my mind to it.” – John Thermidor

Next Level Combines continues to follow Florida’s native John Thermidor on life after being a standout at Jones High School. The Defensive end, Outside Linebacker now attends Globe Institute of Technology in New York and he is currently majoring in Business Management and Computer Science. John is expecting to graduate in the fall of 2015. Here is a overview from his first year of playing college football.

John continues to play football at the college level in hopes that he can transfer to a bigger university in order to gain the education and attention that his game play shows.  He now wears the jersey number 84 in every game for Globe Institute of Technology. For John, his season as a true freshman was amazing. John averaged six tackles and two point fives tackles per game. To him, it was an honour coming into college and playing right away. John also states that  education is also a very high priority.  It just turned in to an experience of a life time for John. As a team they did not make it to the bowl game this season but he did meet valuable friends and supporters along his journey. Fortunately there is always more room for improvement for the upcoming season and John states that the passion that he brings to the game show on every snap. Thermidor can always remember when he was on the field; he would be playing every game as it was his last.

Thermidors workouts consist of plenty of repetitions of weights and running up to 5 mile a day. He focuses his training on developing speed and agility. For example he uses various ladder drills and the five dots drills to have quicker foot movement. When he isn’t working on his footwork, John is in the gym doing repetitions of heavy weights that many freshman seem to struggle with. The dedication and hard work that he put in at Jones High School is paying off.    As an athlete, he notices greater improvements on the field from his first year of college ball. Thermidor gained the ability to be able to play both end sides of defensive end positions. His speed of the edge has gotten much faster than it was in high school and has also worked on developing his academic resume. He is also able to play the cut block better due to the techniques he has learned while playing in college.

Academics are as important for the young athlete as of being on the field. When talking about steps to take academically to succeed in the future, John keeps himself around positive people who have the same goal as he does. In achieving his goals, study groups would be vital and he would also sit down with his professors to dive deeper into the subjects outside of lectures.

As we take look into John Thermidors football career, we asked him what his most memorable football experiences were. John Thermidor from Jones High School in Orlando, Florida, looks back on to his senior year. When he was practicing, he would be practicing real hard at that time as if it was his last and his former team who had a brotherly connection . John looks to a point in which he dislocated his pinkie that got caught between his helmets to the point it was touching the back of his hand. He had to pop it back in place and all he could remember was the way everyone had taken this weird pose as they looked at him as if he was mentally sick. John put his helmet back on and went in the same play as nothing had ever happened.

When Next Level Combines asked Thermidor for other interesting or important information he would like other people to know he says “I am going to be transferring to a four years university this year and also I am a strong believer that God does miracles if you believe in him". I'm also working on becoming a stronger individual in the business industry. I have learn a lot over the course of this year and I think I have grown as individual and as a leader. I really thank the people who have supported me along my journey. It has been tough and I've had my downs. But I think it is the struggle that makes you stronger and having the supporters to give you encouragement in those tough times. It really makes a difference. I love my family and my friends and I will continue to work towards my dreams and encourage others to do so as well, although the struggle may be tough.

Here is a peek on .John Thermidor Highlight tape. Click on the highlighted link for his tape. He does it right by showing us he does play every game as his last. 
 
As we continue to follow his career, only time will tell on this future upcoming athlete. Keep an eye out for John Thermidor!
 

______________________________________SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS

I want to thank the man above first for giving me life and the ability to play the sport I love. I want to thank my mom for being my motivation. My family and friends for being my supporters and last but not least to Next Level Combines for being there with me since my high school days.