While other high school kids are busy playing Fortnite, Kosciusko’s Antonio Harmon is on YouTube watching college and NFL receivers in hopes of improving his game.
Harmon recently gained statewide notority when the rising sophomore received an offer to play football at Mississippi State.
That is just one of the things that makes him one of The Star-Herald Top 10 Players to Watch for 2018.
This is the first of 10 installments of the Star-Herald’s 2018 Top 10 Players to Watch. The players were nominated by head football coaches at Kosciusko, Ethel, McAdams, French Camp and Central Holmes. The players were chosen by the Star-Herald sports staff and will be revealed one week at a time.
Harmon’s numbers may not be as gaudy as some around the state, but he finished the season with 13 catches for 396 yards and five TDs, a 30.5 yard a catch average. But it does not take long to figure out that the 6-foot-4 Harmon is a rare talent.
“He was the newcomer of the year in our district last year,” Kosciusko coach Kelly Causey said. “As a ninth grader, he’s the best kid that I have ever coached. The thing that impresses me so much about Antonio is his maturity level, his dedication to what he wants. He understands that he has got to keep on getting better.”
And while Harmon stood out to Causey, he also stood out to the new Mississippi State coaching staff.
“I was talking with one of my coaches in the break area and one of he coaches said I had a phone call from Mississippi State,” Harmon said. “Coach said they were offering me. He said they had watched my film and really liked what they had seen. It’s a blessing and I’m very grateful. I think it will help bring more exposure to Kosciusko. I just want to work to get better and help my teammates get better.”
With the Kosciusko option-based offense, the balls are few and far between for Harmon but may come more often this season.
“We don’t throw it as much, but when we do, it’s usually big plays.” Causey said. “We are a lot like Georgia Tech and the three-step passing game. He averaged 30 a catch and was leading the whole state in yards per catch. We are going to mix it up and throw the ball a little bit more this year, mainly because we have him out there. We are going to do some more quick passes, screens and things like that to get him the ball. Some of the quick passing game that we can do up front. We aren’t going to go back and read five different guys.”
Causey was quick to praise Harmon’s work ethic on and off the field.
“He is a guy that is in the weight room when he needs to be in the weight room,” Causey said. “They had track practice one day and it got cancelled. I had let the kids go and most of them left but he came back to finish his workout and that doesn’t happen with most ninth graders.”
While Harmon is being recruited as a wide receiver, Causey said he will likely start at safety and see more time on the defensive side of the football.
“He played predominately receiver last year and some safety but he’s going to have to play on both sides,” Causey said. “Sometimes he’s just man among boys. His biggest asset is he will go get the football. It just has to be in the general vicinity and he will go get it.”
When he’s not playing football, Harmon said he helps his father with his tile-laying business. When he’s not doing that, Harmon said he goes home and studies videos on how to be a better receiver.
“I watch YouTube videos all the time,” Harmon said. “I watch college and professional guys. I really like Odell Beckham. I like to see how they get off the ball and run their routes. I watch a lot of that and try to improve on my game. I have picked up a lot, how to improve my footwork, get off the press, how to go get the jump ball. I know that if I am going to play in the SEC, I have to keep on working and get better.”
