Grant athletic director and assistant football coach Reggie Harris has worked with plenty of gifted athletes at his school.
But even Harris is amazed at the level of talent he is working with this week in San Antonio as a West assistant coach for Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl game at the Alamodome.
Harris is the defensive line coach for a West squad that includes his own Shaq Thompson and Pleasant Grove's Arik Armstead.
Harris is coaching up eight linemen, including the 6-foot-8, 290-pound Armstead.
"These guys are awesome," Harris said. "They're tremendously talented and high-character guys. There's no loafing in workouts. You can see why they are such high-level recruits.
In addition to Armstead, Harris also is coaching Buhach Colony of Atwater's Aziz Shittu along with players who have committed to Oregon, Missouri, Texas and Florida State.
Harris said that the highly recruited Armstead and Thompson, who will play safety, aren't expected to reveal their college choices until Saturday's game, which is being televised by NBC.
"This is an amazing experience," Harris said. "All the players and coaches are staying at the Grand Hyatt (San Antonio). It's an experience of a lifetime for these kids - and for me."
Harris already has gotten a little star treatment of his own.
A photo of him barking out orders in a West practice appeared in the San Antonio Express-News.
"The kids are having fun with it," Harris said. "They've started calling me 'Hollywood.'"
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