The postseason looms, but only two regular season games remain in the stellar high school football career of Kris Harley . Four years have gone by fast for the 6-2, 265-pound senior, who recalled his first experience on the Warren Central (Indianapolis, IN) varsity squad.

“They kept me on the freshman team that first year, which kind of made me mad,” Harley said. “At the end of the year, they brought me up to the varsity team in the playoffs. I didn’t play much. I really only started playing a lot my sophomore year. That first game, I was so nervous. I was scared I would be pancaked. I thought I would be blown back into the end-zone. But on my first varsity play, I got a tackle for loss.”

Harley’s ascent to high-level college prospect hasn’t been easy. He admits to his share of defeats, particular in his sophomore season. But he quickly became a force on the varsity level, perhaps a credit to the gridiron experience he had prior to high school.

“I’ve always played against older kids,” said Harley, who started 10 games on the varsity level as a sophomore. As a junior, he racked 80 tackles including 18 tackles for loss and 7 1/2 sacks. “As an 8-year old, I was playing with 12-year olds. I think that’s what got me really good. It motivated me. I wanted to show I could play with them. I wanted to show I wasn’t just a little punk.”

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