Nick Harris
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Career Summary
Nick Harris was an NFL punter who played for Cincinnati, Detroit, and Jacksonville.
NFL.com records 183 games, 943 punts, 39,995 punting yards, a 42.4-yard average, and 260 punts inside the 20-yard line.
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Early Life
Harris was raised in the Phoenix-area community of Avondale, Arizona.
California's official biography lists Avondale as his hometown and identifies Phoenix as his birthplace.
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High School
Harris punted and played linebacker at Westview High School in Phoenix.
California reports that he averaged 42.3 yards per punt as a senior, received National Coaches' Association All-American recognition as a punter, and also earned Arizona all-state honors as a linebacker.
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College Career
Harris set major punting marks at California.
His Cal career totals were 249 punts for 10,951 yards, a 43.98-yard average, and 56 punts inside the 20. He broke the program's single-season punts record with 87 in 1998 and was considered a threat to run or pass from punt formation.
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Path to the NFL
Denver selected Harris in the fourth round, 120th overall, of the 2001 NFL Draft.
Pro-Football-Reference's draft record lists Harris as the Broncos' 120th overall selection.
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NFL Career
Harris began with Cincinnati from 2001 into 2003, punted for Detroit from 2003 through 2010 and again in 2012, and spent 2011 with Jacksonville.
His NFL totals include 943 punts and 260 inside the 20. NFL.com lists his highest season average as 45.0 yards in 2006 with Detroit.
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Career Accomplishments
Harris was among the NFL's most accurate directional punters during his Detroit tenure.
A Lions game release notes that he led the NFL in 2005 in net differential—punts downed inside the 20 minus touchbacks—with a figure of 32.
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Playing Style
Harris combined a strong leg with directional punting and the athleticism to handle fakes or cover kicks.
California described him as a threat to run or pass from punt formation and a capable coverage tackler. His NFL record includes 260 punts inside the 20 and a 42.4-yard career average.
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Legacy
Harris compiled a long NFL punting career and remains part of Detroit's modern punting history.
Detroit's media guide lists him as the Lions' punter for 2003-10 and 2012, and NFL.com credits him with 183 career games.
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Sources for this section
19163, 00-0020267, 1978-07-23, Nick Harris, Nick, Harris
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