DuJuan Harris' NFL dream was nearly over before it started. The undrafted 24-year-old was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars at the end of training camp, and then lasted only four days with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Most 5-foot-7-inch running backs out of Troy don't get a lot of NFL chances.
Out of options, Harris wanted to get back to work. So he started selling cars at Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Arlington in Jacksonville, Fla. He was one week into the job when the Packers called with an offer to join their practice squad, according to Tom Silverstein of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Just a few short months later, Harris is the team's starting running back. During last week's Packers-Vikings preview, I called Harris' the team's X-factor. His aggressive running style was impressive against the Vikings in the regular season, and he followed that up with 100 yards from scrimmage against Minnesota.
Harris keeps in touch with his old bosses at the car dealership. He plans to go back to selling cars during this offseason.
"I just got off the phone with them," Harris said. "They just told me they sold 10 cars. That's live. That is live. Why not be a part of that?"
It may not have quite hit Harris yet that he could build a long career in the NFL. His emergence reminds me a lot of James Starks' breakout postseason after the 2010 campaign. Starks himself is expected to join Harris in the backfield this week, but it will probably come in a secondary role. Harris looks like the team's best backfield option.
"I think he's kind of a 'Transformer,'" quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "There's more than meets the eye with DuJuan."
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