Coach Speak: Rob Harris On Leron Husbands
Maryland secured a commitment from three-star tight end Leron Husbands (Carroll/Washington, D.C.) Feb. 27, and afterwards we spoke to his head coach, Rob Harris, to gain more insight into the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder:
Terrapin Times: Coach, it’s been a couple years since you guys sent a prospect to Maryland. I guess Deon Jones was the last one. I know Deon didn’t have as much success as he wanted to there, but what are your thoughts on sending Leron to Maryland?
Rob Harris: I mean, Leron visited unofficially a few times, and a couple times the last two months, and it was a great fit. We talked and I said, ‘Look, if you feel confident about the school you need to commit. There is no need to drag it out.’ There are a lot of guys that do, and they end up losing their spots and things like that. Leron knew he wanted to be there, so I advised him he should go where he wanted to be.
TT: What does Leron bring to the table as a tight end and what is his potential?
RH: He can do everything from that position as far as blocking, catching the call, and he can also go out on the edge. He gives you that new wave tight end like Travis Kelce and those types of guys. I look at him like a Vernon Davis almost. Vernon wasn’t that big of a tight end coming out of high school, but he could run and had great athleticism. I’m not saying Leron is like Vernon, but he’s similar in terms of his body and skills.
The question right now is if Leron is going to get bigger and put his hands in the dirt or if he’s going to be an edge guy. To me, right now, he’s a hybrid guy. He can play in-line or go out on the edge. I think that’s what Maryland likes about him, but we’ll see what he develops into.
TT: What does Leron have to do to be ready for Big Ten ball? What does he have to improve on?
RH: It’s just going to be all-around growth every day. It’s just understanding the collegiate game and getting bigger and stronger, and all of that. It's just natural progression as a high school player to the college player. He’s where he should be as a junior in college. There’s always room for improvement in the mental phases, and that just comes over time.
TT: When did you guys know that Leron could be a big-time player? Was there something he did that made you say, ‘OK, this kid can play?’
RH: He stood out right away. As an eighth grader, the summer before his ninth grade year, he stood out. We took a few guys being recruited down to South Carolina, and Leron hadn’t even played a high school game yet. But we knew then he had the makings. He was 6-3 then and caught and ran well. He was a track kid and really ran well for his size. It was impressive for a kid that young, with that size, to show those skills early on.
TT: And were there any moments in high school that really caught your eye that made you say, ‘This guy is on another level?’
RH: There were a few each year he’s been at Carroll. I mean, you look at his film, and there are plays where you say, ‘Wow, he’s explosive.’
TT: I know Deon [Jones] is transferring from Maryland, obviously, but what do you think about the fit for Leron at Maryland and what do you think of the staff there?
RH: I think it’s a great fit. I have a great relationship with those guys. Coach Mike Locksley and Coach Scottie [Montgomery] are both head coaches [and former head coaches], and they bring a lot of experience. And Coach [Mike] Miller built a great relationship with Leron and has been great to us. And of course Brawley [Evans] and [Elijah] Brooks and I go way back. But they just need to get the right pieces in place with the Johnnies and Joes and then they can definitely seal the deal.
TT: Do you feel Leron flew just under the radar a bit? Do you feel he would’ve procured more major offers after the spring evaluation period?
RH: Under the radar? No. I feel like he got the proper attention. I just think he found a place that was home. He decided early that he wanted to be at Maryland and wanted to make it home. He made that pretty well known early in the process.
TT: Coach, you would think Leron would need a redshirt year initially to build his body up. But what do you think his potential is at Maryland?
RH: I absolutely think a redshirt year, sure, but after that the sky is the limit. He’s not far from home, but far enough to get the experience of a big-time college program. They have the things in place as far as strength and conditioning, as far as study hall, and as far as training to become a top student-athlete during his time there.
TT: Coach, what’s Leron like off the field? I’ve talked to him several times and he seems like a well-grounded person, but always interested in what coaches have to say about prospects.
RH: He’s a high-character kid who works hard and is a natural leader. He’s a leader through his actions. He’s well-liked and has a good personality, but he’s quiet around people he doesn’t know. But a very good kid from a good family, and he should do very well at Maryland.