University Southern California Trojans
Photo by: John McGillen
Never Finished
September 21, 2018 | Football
by Ryan Witter, USC Sports Information Intern
When senior defensive back Ajene Harris takes the field for a practice or game, he wears a skullcap underneath his helmet that reads one word: "FINISH."
There's irony here, because it's pretty clear in conversation with USC's starting cornerback that he is never really finished with anything. There are always more ways to hone his craft on the field and find opportunities to grow as a person and expand his potential outside the lines.
"I come ready to play" says Harris, who packs a ton of energy into his 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame.
His schedule is testament to a life moving forward. Aside from his role as a veteran team leader, he's already earned a bachelor's degree in communications and is now working on a second degree in sociology with a minor in real estate development. Two months ago he became the proud father of a baby girl, named Harlem.
Despite having to balance so much at age 22, the fifth-year senior from Los Angeles' Crenshaw High takes it all in stride. Harris says his spirit animal is either a lion or a bear — despite their calmness they are "ready to attack" when challenged — but you can't help but think that he has a fair amount of workhorse in him too.
Asked about how he manages everything, his reply is matter-of-fact: "These are my responsibilities, and they're just things I have to get done."
He aspires to play in the NFL but knows life on the field ends at some point for every player, so he looks to the long-term and sees a world of opportunity. From community philanthropy to developing apartment complexes to acting or modeling, he sees a future full of possibilities as long he keeps moving forward.
"I still got a lot more things that I want to accomplish and I'm working toward them every day," he says.
Growing up just a few minutes from the USC campus, Harris has been a fan of the Trojans for as long as he can remember, but he never thought that one day he would take the field at the Coliseum representing his "dream school."
Harris starred at quarterback for Crenshaw, leading the Cougars to the 2013 L.A. City Division 1 Championships as a senior while also seeing time at receiver and defensive back.
He attended one of USC's camps while in school, wowing the Trojan coaching staff with his versatility and all-out effort.
"I didn't know where he was going to play," USC Coach Clay Helton said, "But I knew he was a Trojan."
Harris says playing for Troy is "a dream come true," but Harris brought the dream to life through years of hard work and his unstoppable drive to succeed.
After making it to USC, Harris would soon be posed with the biggest challenge of his football career. Just days after making his first collegiate start against Oregon State in 2014 as a wide receiver (catching three passes against the Beavers), Harris suffered a major hamstring injury in practice that would sideline him for most of the rest of that season as well as the entire 2015 season.
Even with the difficult recovery process, Harris says he never considered waving the white flag because. As he said, "giving up is not a part of me for one, and for two, I have goals and I'm the type of person that's going to keep trying until I reach my goals."
By the time Harris was healthy enough to play again, he was far down on the depth chart at receiver. Rather than accept his role as a reserve, he approached the coaching staff about moving to cornerback, a position he played in high school.
A little over two seasons and nearly 100 tackles later, the move speaks for itself. USC defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast paid Harris the ultimate compliment last season when he said, "I wish we had 11 guys just like him."
Harris hasn't missed a game since becoming a defensive back, starting four times in 2016 and nine times in 2017 as USC's nickelback. He has five interceptions in the last two seasons, including two at Colorado last year, one of which he returned 34 yards for a touchdown.
Harris' mindset when he steps on the field hints at why Pendergast loves him. "I want to dominate every opponent" and help the Trojans to a second consecutive conference championship and a College Football Playoff bid, he says.
After starting the 2018 season 1-1 and 0-1 in the Pac-12, the Trojans have their work cut out for them if they are to achieve such lofty goals. So far, Harris has certainly done his part, recording three tackles against both UNLV and Stanford and helping limit the two opponents to a combined 280 yards through the air.
Whether as a father, football player, actor, or real estate developer, one thing is certain, if Ajene Harris puts his mind to it, he will never stop working to become better. He just wants to FINISH, though he knows he never will — and that's the key to his success.
When senior defensive back Ajene Harris takes the field for a practice or game, he wears a skullcap underneath his helmet that reads one word: "FINISH."
There's irony here, because it's pretty clear in conversation with USC's starting cornerback that he is never really finished with anything. There are always more ways to hone his craft on the field and find opportunities to grow as a person and expand his potential outside the lines.
"I come ready to play" says Harris, who packs a ton of energy into his 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame.
His schedule is testament to a life moving forward. Aside from his role as a veteran team leader, he's already earned a bachelor's degree in communications and is now working on a second degree in sociology with a minor in real estate development. Two months ago he became the proud father of a baby girl, named Harlem.
Despite having to balance so much at age 22, the fifth-year senior from Los Angeles' Crenshaw High takes it all in stride. Harris says his spirit animal is either a lion or a bear — despite their calmness they are "ready to attack" when challenged — but you can't help but think that he has a fair amount of workhorse in him too.
Asked about how he manages everything, his reply is matter-of-fact: "These are my responsibilities, and they're just things I have to get done."
He aspires to play in the NFL but knows life on the field ends at some point for every player, so he looks to the long-term and sees a world of opportunity. From community philanthropy to developing apartment complexes to acting or modeling, he sees a future full of possibilities as long he keeps moving forward.
"I still got a lot more things that I want to accomplish and I'm working toward them every day," he says.
Growing up just a few minutes from the USC campus, Harris has been a fan of the Trojans for as long as he can remember, but he never thought that one day he would take the field at the Coliseum representing his "dream school."
Harris starred at quarterback for Crenshaw, leading the Cougars to the 2013 L.A. City Division 1 Championships as a senior while also seeing time at receiver and defensive back.
He attended one of USC's camps while in school, wowing the Trojan coaching staff with his versatility and all-out effort.
"I didn't know where he was going to play," USC Coach Clay Helton said, "But I knew he was a Trojan."
Harris says playing for Troy is "a dream come true," but Harris brought the dream to life through years of hard work and his unstoppable drive to succeed.
After making it to USC, Harris would soon be posed with the biggest challenge of his football career. Just days after making his first collegiate start against Oregon State in 2014 as a wide receiver (catching three passes against the Beavers), Harris suffered a major hamstring injury in practice that would sideline him for most of the rest of that season as well as the entire 2015 season.
Even with the difficult recovery process, Harris says he never considered waving the white flag because. As he said, "giving up is not a part of me for one, and for two, I have goals and I'm the type of person that's going to keep trying until I reach my goals."
By the time Harris was healthy enough to play again, he was far down on the depth chart at receiver. Rather than accept his role as a reserve, he approached the coaching staff about moving to cornerback, a position he played in high school.
A little over two seasons and nearly 100 tackles later, the move speaks for itself. USC defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast paid Harris the ultimate compliment last season when he said, "I wish we had 11 guys just like him."
Harris hasn't missed a game since becoming a defensive back, starting four times in 2016 and nine times in 2017 as USC's nickelback. He has five interceptions in the last two seasons, including two at Colorado last year, one of which he returned 34 yards for a touchdown.
Harris' mindset when he steps on the field hints at why Pendergast loves him. "I want to dominate every opponent" and help the Trojans to a second consecutive conference championship and a College Football Playoff bid, he says.
After starting the 2018 season 1-1 and 0-1 in the Pac-12, the Trojans have their work cut out for them if they are to achieve such lofty goals. So far, Harris has certainly done his part, recording three tackles against both UNLV and Stanford and helping limit the two opponents to a combined 280 yards through the air.
Whether as a father, football player, actor, or real estate developer, one thing is certain, if Ajene Harris puts his mind to it, he will never stop working to become better. He just wants to FINISH, though he knows he never will — and that's the key to his success.
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