It was during an impromptu media session last September that the members of Booker T. Washington's football team -- ranked eighth in the nation by USA Today in 2007 -- took turns fielding on-camera questions outside the team's practice field.

One after another, soft-spoken teens in shoulder pads whispered succinct answers into a microphone. Until it was Natturner Harris' turn.

Harris is the outgoing, outspoken ball-hawk with the coverage abilities and return skills that had schools like Clemson, West Virginia and Rutgers making calls to his mother's home in Overtown.

He was asked if the Tornadoes could defeat that week's opponent, reigning national champion and crosstown rival Northwestern. ''Of course I think we can beat them. Without a doubt,'' Harris' voice boomed.

On whether the 2008 team could earn the same respect as the 2007 Tornadoes, which played a nationally televised game on ESPN: ``Of course it's all about respect. To get that respect you've got to go out and take respect, and that's what we're about to do this week.''

That Friday, in front of a sellout crowd at Traz Powell Stadium, Harris intercepted a pass late in the fourth quarter that led to a Tornadoes touchdown, but Northwestern prevailed 31-29 in the closing seconds. In the stands and on the sidelines, scouts with the letters UCF, FIU and USF on their polo shirts scribbled on clipboards, each with No. 9 -- Harris' number -- highlighted.

''A punt returner right away,'' said one.

''Eventually a cover back,'' appraised another.

But the respect that Harris spoke of has been elusive since the end of the 2008 season. Once a sure bet to be the next in a long line of talented Booker T. products, Harris will toil in relative anonymity next season at Division I-AA Norfolk State in Virginia.

''I was a little surprised by the whole recruiting process, in a positive way and negative,'' Harris said recently. ``I was surprised when some of these schools knew my name. Then I was surprised when I didn't hear from certain schools again.''

Since losing his father to cancer when he was 14, Harris -- whose father also was named after the American slave-era revolutionary -- has taken his grades seriously, according to his mother.

''Natturner has been a work in progress, but I'm so proud of how he's turned out,'' Tanya Dingle said. She maintains perspective when talking about the waning interest her son received as his senior year progressed.

''There are so many mothers out there of African-American boys who've lost their lives, so I have to be thankful,'' she said.

Harris is in the same boat as many other South Florida athletes who will leave town this summer for lesser-known destinations.

Northwestern safety Tevin McCaskill would like to forget the last play of his high school career -- when he was beaten deep for a

40-yard, go-ahead touchdown by Sanford Seminole's Andre Dubose in the final minute of the 2008 Class 6A title game.

A talented prospect with several pending offers a year ago, McCaskill now headlines a recruiting class of 10 Miami-Dade County players headed to Palomar College, a community college in San Diego County.

''It's not the way we thought it would go, but I'm happy for the opportunity,'' McCaskill said on National Signing Day.

With a talent pool as deep as any in the nation, South Florida is a recruiting focus for large and small schools. Personal connections, like the one between Palomar's coaching staff and Northwestern assistant coach Rodney Harris, builds the transnational player pipelines.

''We are fortunate to have a presence in South Florida,'' Norfolk State coach Pete Adrian said. His defensive line coach, Mark Thurston, was an All-State defensive end at Miami Senior High and coached Norland's defensive line and special teams for two years. Thurston helped secure recruits such as Harris, UConn transfer Dennis Brown (Central) and former Norland linebacker Jason Dent.

''Thanks to our staff we can find some kids who may be falling through the cracks,'' Adrian said. Such was the case with Harris, whom Adrian envisions playing corner.

''He's a very good, very talented player, and we're happy to have him, but everyone has to earn a spot on this team. No one is handed anything,'' Adrian said.

That's not a problem for Harris. After a stressful recruitment that had him thinking he might need to make his part-time job at a local uniform store in Overtown a permanent position, he is happy to be suiting up for a team.

''It was a little disappointing, but to be honest I'm not even thinking of transferring or anything like that,'' Harris said. ``I'm happy to go up to Virginia. It's a chance for me to get away and be a man.''

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@