Dare to Dream

By USC Athletics Black History Month

February 22^nd, 2017

By Max Holm

It doesn't rain a lot in Los Angeles, so naturally the city got hit with a torrential downpour when historic rivals USC and Notre Dame faced off in November. Sunlight teased the Coliseum for the hours leading up to kickoff, but when things got underway, dark clouds unleashed a heavy shower.

USC's sideline and student section embraced the elements, soaking in the storm's energy and unleashing it on the Fighting Irish.

With halftime approaching and the Trojans leading by 10, Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer dropped back in the pocket and threw a misguided spiral over the middle, providing USC defensive back Ajene Harris the opportunity to jump the route and return Kizer's pass for a touchdown.

"I couldn't believe he threw it and that I caught the ball. I really couldn't believe I scored inside the Coliseum, because I grew up in Los Angeles and I look at people who stepped into the end zone, like Hayes Pullard," says Harris. "It was a big relief with all the stuff I've been through: surgery, hamstring injuries, not starting the whole year, winning a job and taking advantage of that opportunity."

After all he had been through, he stood in a damp end zone, realizing his hard work had paid off.

By now, you probably know the improbable story of the 2016 USC football team -- from 1-3, following a heartbreaker in Salt Lake City, to Rose Bowl champions just a few months later.

While there is no doubting the incredible fortitude, toughness and commitment from this special group of Trojans, those traits are the result of individuals who have stared down adversity and overcome. The journeys of these young men are as endearing and powerful, perhaps more so, than the Rose Bowl victory itself. South Central-raised Harris is one of those men.

"It was rough growing up in South Central, dealing with gang violence. It's something that you just have to be aware of, know your surroundings, who you're hanging out with, what you're getting into, where you're going, who's going to be there, what you have on -- all those things have to come to mind," Harris reflects.

Harris and his three siblings, two brothers and a sister, understand struggle. Their father was in and out of prison. Their mother was a single parent, sometimes working two jobs.

"She's been working hard since I've been growing up, working a nine-to-five job. There's been times throughout my childhood where she had two jobs and still came home, cooked and provided for our family. I appreciate the little things that she's done," says Harris.

While Harris faced plenty of difficulties around 84th and Budlong, his surroundings helped motivate him. He was filled with the desire to work for his mother, for his family.

"I do this for myself because I love the game, and for my family to get us out of the struggle. I want to take care of my mom one day. I'm trying to take care of my family, take care of myself and make South Central a better place," says Harris.

Harris always wanted to play football and saw the sport as his way out. He got the chance to do so at Crenshaw High School, where he used football to stay on a straight path when many of those around him did not. Harris was also encouraged to do so by his father, who helped motivate him when he got out of prison.

"I used to come up to SC and work out most of the time [at the track]. Coming up to SC was time to get away from a lot of stuff going on at home and around my neighborhood. It was a place to feel safe, not be bothered and not have to watch my back," Harris recalls. "I always wanted to go here, so that was my motivation for coming up. That kept me more focused."

While Harris dreamed of a chance to play football at USC, he craved guidance and support on and off the field. He got that from Robert Garrett, the head football coach at Crenshaw since 1988.

"When I was in high school, since my first day checking into Crenshaw, I caught the bus home. By the second day he was giving me rides home from school every day, so I didn't have to deal with gang violence and all that," says Harris, who actually played quarterback in high school. "Now that I look back on it, I probably could have been dead just walking down the street going to the bus stop."

Garrett was eager to help Harris because of the high schooler's dedication.

"What made him special was his ability to want to learn and to study. He always wanted to initiate: 'Let's go study film, let's go study plays,'" recalls Garrett, who moved to Los Angeles from Alabama when racism was prevalent in the South.

"If a kid has that ambition, wow, I'm more motivated than the kid because you don't have too many kids who want to do those things all season. Ajene always wanted to do those things to get better. Whenever a kid wants to get better I take out the time to go all the way."

Garrett acted as a father figure to Harris' fellow Crenshaw Cougar and Trojan, Hayes Pullard, when the linebacker's father passed away. Pullard and many more of Garrett's players have become successful on and off the field, and he doesn't stop supporting them once they leave Crenshaw.

"What I want to do is give them the hope," says Garrett, who always kept a job growing up to help his mother pay the bills. "I like to serve as a mentor to the school to give the kids an outlet, a place to go. If you want to get out of this situation and this area, and do something for yourself, education is the way to do it."

The help and support Harris received from Garrett made their relationship stronger.

"I really appreciate him being that mentor, being able to educate me throughout my high school experience, and have somebody you can look up to as a coach, a father figure and a friend," Harris reflects.

USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin noticed Harris in a game against Long Beach Poly and then Harris attended a USC camp in the summer. Harris got the school's attention and the chance at a scholarship.

"During that [camp], he had more interceptions than everybody and more touchdown passes than any other kid in the camp. I thought that was unique," recounts Martin. "He was smart, intelligent, and athletic."

After impressing Martin and others, Harris received his dream scholarship from USC, committing as an athlete.

"There's not too many opportunities given to South Central kids. I was blessed to get one opportunity, so I felt like I had to make the most out of it," Harris explains thoughtfully. "So every day I come to practice, step on the field, go in the film room -- every time I go in the weight room -- I take full advantage because I know a lot of people want to be in my shoes and that a lot of people don't get too many opportunities like this. I'm just ready to seize it."

"When I can go into a community like that and say, 'Your son's college education is paid for,' for me that is life-changing. To know what USC does for people, and have the opportunity to help someone's life like that is the most rewarding part of this game."

While some who receive scholarships focus more on their path to the NFL than school, Harris understands the significance of the opportunity to pursue both his love of football and a higher education. As soon as Harris got to campus, he went to work.

Right out of the gates, Harris impressed coaches and got reps as a true freshman at a loaded wide receiving position, even starting the Trojans' game against Oregon State. Harris was thriving as a true freshman, but soon got derailed by the injury bug.

A strained hamstring shortened his freshman season. Then, he got devastating news that he needed hip surgery, which would keep him out for the entire 2015 season. Despite the challenging road ahead, Harris leaned on his mental toughness and those around him to not get down, and continued working to get back on the field.

Harris fought his way back to be ready for the 2016 season, and made a selfless move to switch to the secondary. From there, Harris put in the work to become an expert on defense and soon was heavily relied upon, as USC turned its season around.

"He came back, went to the other side of the ball, and became a star. I don't know if that's happened in USC history. He's a unique person and I think it all comes back to his leadership qualities," says Martin, who also credits Harris' turnaround to the intelligence he picked up from playing quarterback at Crenshaw.

"He and Adoree' Jackson are two of the most intelligent players I've been around," says Martin confidently.

When Harris went down to multiple injuries, he could have given up. When he returned without a promise to start at wide receiver, he could have dragged his feet to stay at the position. He did neither.

"I think when you're raised in some of the neighborhoods and situations that we've come from -- I came from a similar background -- it teaches you survival," says Martin. "So it doesn't surprise me that he's successful. It speaks to his strength and the way he was raised with his mom."

Instead of giving up, he put his head down, grinded and became a key member of USC's 2017 Rose Bowl champion team. It's still surreal to him a month later.

"Being a local kid from Los Angeles, from working out at USC, getting an offer to USC and then bringing a Rose Bowl, I haven't even taken the time to think about all that," Harris admits.

Now, Harris is looking forward to spring ball and the chance to build on the team's recent success, but also reflecting on what football has given him.

"It gave me the opportunity to get a degree, be at a prestigious college, meet wonderful people and build relationships with great teammates, classmates, professors, just great people in general. It's done a lot for me and my family. I'm blessed to be here."

Harris knows that he wouldn't be where he is today without the mentorship he experienced, so he wants to pay that gift forward and inspire the younger generation in his community.

"I will come up with more ideas as life goes on, but as of right now, I plan on speaking at schools, after school programs and clubs in South Central to positively motivate children in the community."