Science Hill's Harris taking sudden stardom in stride

There's no such thing as an overnight success story, even if you're Kiantai Harris. Harris seemingly emerged from obscurity in Science Hill's season-opening victory against Elizabethton. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound junior running back announced his presence with an electric 80-yard touchdown run that propelled the Hilltoppers to victory, and he hasn't stopped running since. In the span of five short weeks, Kiantai went from a name fans were trying to figure out how to pronounce to a household name in Johnson City that is chanted from the stands week in and week out. Harris already has over 1,000 yards rushing and is showing no signs of slowing down. But none of this happened overnight. As with all so-called overnight success stories, this one is the result of years of hard work that took place far away from the spotlight. Tough Love Harris will be the first to admit that he was a bit of a handful as a kid. That probably comes as no surprise to the fans who have witnessed his boundless energy on the field, a natural bounciness that carries right over to the sidelines as he celebrates with his teammates after every touchdown. "When I was about 7, my mom put me into (football) as a disciplinary thing," Harris recalled. "I just grew a love for it." Football offered Harris a place to channel his energy, and he built speed and strength while playing for the Junior Toppers before moving on to Indian Trail Middle School. As Harris moved up through the ranks, the touchdowns piled up, and that drove him to work even harder. The mother who put Harris on the football field to give him an outlet for all his energy loved every minute of it. "Scoring touchdowns and hearing my mom cheer for me in the stands - I loved it," Harris said." Waiting His Turn When Harris got to Science Hill, he entered a program with a deep stable of older running backs. All of a sudden, the guy who lived to get in the end zone found himself behind Nalique Anderson, Aiden Perry, Baylor Necessary and Ian Mathes on Science Hill's depth chart. But instead of seeing a roadblock, Harris put in the work and learned what he could while he waited for his opportunity in the spotlight. "It was a good experience," Harris said. "They really mentored me to be the player I am today, Coach (Stacy) Carter, too. I'm really grateful to them." The competition for playing time helped push Harris to become the best version of himself. He trained tirelessly, seeking camps and training opportunities in Knoxville, out of state, and with former ETSU great Derek Fudge. A lot of this work took place during the offseason as Harris pushed himself on a daily basis to be ready when the time came. "I was just letting the older guys know that when they leave, they'd better come back, because it was going to be something different when I earned my position." Sudden Stardom Harris has always had friends, and his teammates, coaches and family have provided him with a great support system. But being the face of Science Hill's football team has made Harris one of the most popular people in town. Whether he's walking down the hallway to class or basking in the cheers coming from the bleachers, Harris has been hit with an influx of attention. Needless to say, it's been enjoyable, and he particularly appreciates the bond he's been able to build with the community. "The fans, I love them," he said. "I've got a really good connection with them. Some of them I'd never even talked to before, and now I've got so many good relationships with them." Staying Grounded There hasn't been a week that's gone by - aside from the week after Science Hill's game against Cocke County was cancelled due to lightning - that Harris hasn't accepted a player of the week plaque from at least one media outlet. With that said, Harris is focused on staying grounded and continuing to put in the work that has gotten him this far. "My coaches remind me, my mom reminds me, everybody reminds me to stay grounded," Harris said. "I love them for that. Stay grounded and keep up the good work and God will guide me through it." Part of staying grounded is realizing that his gaudy stats wouldn't be possible without the work of the offensive line that has been opening holes for him every game. Harris credits Aden Taylor, Skyler Dykes, Jacob Carden, Oliver Evans, Parke Walters and Sawyer Necessary for the work they've done up front, and he backs his words up with actions. "They're a really good group of guys, and I love them," Harris said. "They really open the holes for me and they get snacks for it. I keep them happy, and I keep them well-fed, too." The Work at Hand There will come a time when Harris will be able to reflect on all that he has accomplished, but he can't get himself in that mindset in the middle of the season. Rushing for over 1,000 yards in just five games is a rare accomplishment, but for now, there's too much work to be done to take it all in. He's focused on helping the 5-0 Hilltoppers reach their potential this season, and he's excited to see how far this team can go. "It's wake up and the next day - football." Harris said. "I haven't been able to reel it in yet because it just goes by quickly."