Andrew Harris (Canadian football)

Andrew Harris (born April 24, 1987, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a professional Canadian football running back who currently plays for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was named the Most Outstanding Canadian of the 99th Grey Cup and played junior football for the Vancouver Island Raiders of the Canadian Junior Football League.

Junior career
Harris took the rare path to professional football by going through the junior system. Instead of joining a CIS football program after school, he joined the Vancouver Island Raiders of the Canadian Junior Football League. During his phenomenal junior career, he led the Raiders to three national championships (2006, 2008, and 2009) and broke a number of British Columbia conference and CJFL records, including all-time touchdowns and scoring. In 2009, he was awarded the Wally Buono Award for most outstanding junior football player in Canada.

Professional career
BC Lions head coach and general manager Wally Buono took notice of Harris's talents in junior football and claimed him as a territorial exemption in 2008. He joined the Lions practice roster in 2009, while continuing to play his final season of junior for the Raiders.

In 2010, Harris earned a spot on the Lions active roster and was primarily used on special teams in his first season. He was named the CFL's special teams player of the week on September 14, 2010.

Harris began the 2011 season as the Lions' backup running back. Harris saw his role expand and he took over as the starting running back in midseason, finishing with 853 total yards and 8 touchdowns. In the playoffs, Harris was named the Canadian player of the week for his performance in the Lions' win over the Edmonton Eskimos in the West Division Final. A week later, Harris was named the Most Outstanding Canadian at the Grey Cup, scoring a touchdown and rushing for 65 yards over 10 carries in the Lions 34-23 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

On December 29, 2011, Harris and the Lions agreed to a two-year contract extension, with an option for year three.

Following a strong 2011 campaign, Harris became the starting running back for the 2012 CFL season. Harris continued his strong play and became the ninth Canadian running back to rush for 1000 yards in a season and the first BC Lion to rush for a 1000 yards since Sean Millington in 2000. Fellow Canadian running back Jon Cornish also ran for 1000 yards, marking the first time since 1956 that two Canadian running backs ran for 1000 yards in the same season.

Personal
Harris was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is an Oak Park High School alumnus. He cites his idol as being former Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Charles Roberts. Since joining the Lions, Harris has worn #33 as a tribute to a Vancouver Island Raiders teammate who died in a car crash in September 2008.

Harris has a daughter and continues to make Winnipeg his home during the offseason.