COLLEGE PARK — When Maryland running backs coach Anthony Tucker watches Lorenzo Harrison play, he thinks about video games. Tucker wants to hold the controller and direct Harrison through the holes in the offensive line, and he has an idea of where the freshman is going to go. But suddenly — as if Harrison snatched the controller away from Tucker — the running back quickly changes direction and turns the run into something else completely unexpected yet successful.
"He's just going so fast," Tucker said Tuesday at Maryland's media day. "Can't keep up with him."
For the first time as a college player, Harrison had the opportunity to showcase his talent and skill for the public in Maryland's open practice Saturday, and while he was working with the second and third teams, and the practice was "thud" — players hit each other but didn't go to the ground — Harrison was able to make an impression in a crowded backfield.
"He's been really good all camp," coach DJ Durkin said Saturday. "He's been really hard to tackle, bring down. He's been consistent. He's a hard worker, so I like him. He doesn't act like a freshman most of the time, and that's a good thing."
Harrison came to Maryland as a three-star recruit and one of four former DeMatha players and three running backs in the Terps' Class of 2016. He ran for 1,341 yards on 121 carries and scored 14 touchdowns in helping lead the Stags to another Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship and was the first commit in Maryland's class, verbally pledging in September 2014 and staying true despite the coaching change.
Since he has arrived in College Park this summer, he has turned heads.
"We have Lorenzo Harrison, he's a shifty running back," linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr. said during media day. "He's been killing the defense in scrimmages and stuff like that. He's been doing very well."
At a practice last week, Harrison scored a touchdown during the session's final competition period by winding through and around the opposing defense. On Saturday, he did it again by taking a handoff from freshman quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome around midfield and picking his way down to inside the 20.
Harrison arrived at Maryland behind sophomore Ty Johnson, seniors Trey Edmunds and Wes Brown, and freshman Jake Funk, who enrolled early and participated in spring practice. But Brown is suspended for the first three games of the season, and offensive coordinator Walt Bell has said his system needs at least three capable running backs to be successful, which opens the door for Harrison to contribute.
Tucker said part of Harrison's success comes from opponents underestimating his ability. He's on the smaller side and listed at 5 feet 8, but he's strong and has great turnover — "It's like watching the roadrunner, you don't even see his legs," Tucker said — which can throw off defenders.
"He's a shorter guy, but he's thick and he's strong, too," Tucker said. "So you see short, but sometimes you don't equate that to being strong, so he's breaking a lot of tackles and he's changing direction and he's making movements they're not used to seeing. So it's kind of hard to get a hold of him."
Durkin has said he'll play whichever players give him the chance to win, and on Saturday, he said he'll play "as many [freshmen] as can help us." Despite the talent in front of him at the position, Harrison could be one of those players. And if not this fall, then in the future.
"[Harrison is] going to have the chance to be a really, really, really special player," Bell said. "I'm sure if you ask questions around the building, you'll see some wry smiles on people's faces when they ask you about [Harrison]."
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