Harris, Rice named ‘Phenoms’

Eufaula senior Hans Rice’s teammates already referred to him as “The Phenom,” so it’s only fitting that the 6-foot-3, 190-pound linebacker was named as one of Alabama Football Magazine’s 2008 Reebok Alabama Phenoms.

Rice was selected as a member of the squad’s third-team defense.

“I told (Eufaula head coach Dan Klages) that I guess it’s official that I’m a phenom now,” Rice said with a smile.

He’s not the only Tiger to make the list.

Fellow linebacker Javen Harris received first-team honors.

“It’s a great honor,” Harris said.

“I thought I’d probably be a little underrated as far as what people thought around the state, but I guess not,” the senior added with a laugh. “It really is a great honor and it’s something to work to live up to.”

A total of 72 players were named to the team.

“The 2008 Reebok Alabama Phenoms are a special set of players – truly the best of the best,” Varsity Sports Media Alabama managing editor David Wasson said. “Breaking down the (more than) 12,000 athletes in Alabama into this elite list was a challenge, but we know these elite athletes will shine all season long for their respective schools.”

Harris, a 6-foot, 220-pounder that runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds who has already verbally committed to Central Florida, recorded 96 tackles and 10 tackles for a loss as a junior.

Rice – who according to Rivals.com is being recruited by Auburn, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Florida, Memphis, Ole Miss, North Carolina State, Southern Miss, Vanderbilt, Central Florida, South Alabama, Troy and UAB – finished his junior season with 82 tackles, including six for a loss.

Harris and Rice both believe the added attention they will receive from opposing offenses this season should help free their teammates up to make plenty of plays - much the same way current Alabama freshman Courtney Upshaw did for them last season.

The pair is still counting on making plenty of tackles this season, though.

“I’m sure we’ll get a little added attention now,” Rice said. “I’m not worried about that, though. We have a lot of guys on this defense that can make plays, and I plan on fighting through blockers to make plays and I know Javen is going to do his job.”

According to Harris, the extra attention just means he and Rice will have to work that much harder.

“We’ll get some extra attention, but we still have to make plays,” he said. “The linebackers are the leaders of the defense, so we’re going to have work to get off blocks and make tackles. The attention is great, but it all comes down to making plays and helping the team win games.”

The duo will anchor a linebacking corps that Klages has described as “special.”

“I feel real good about this group,” Klages said. “It’s probably the most solid group we have top to bottom. … We have a lot of talent at that position. This group has a chance to be very good.”

It’s no secret that has a lot to do with Harris and Rice.

“Those two guys are our hottest college prospects,” Klages said. “They have a chance to be real good. The thing about both of those guys is they get it done in the classroom too and that makes them attractive to college programs. Both of those guys are ‘A’ students.”

They will be joined by sophomore linebacker Ramone Lewis in the starting lineup.

According to Harris, this could be the best defense he’s been a part of during his Eufaula career, and that’s saying something considering the Tigers’ opponents have averaged less than 10 points per game the last two years.

“There’s a lot of talent on this defense,” he said. “If we keep working hard, we have a chance to be real good.”
Rice agreed.

“We have a lot of young guys in some spots, especially at defensive back, but we have talent and speed,” he said. “Almost all the starters run a 4-something (in the 40-yard dash), so we’re going to be around the ball. If we work hard, we’re going to have another good defense this year.”

About the only thing the two can’t agree on is who the better linebacker is.

“I’m going with me,” Harris said with a smile.

Rice just laughed and said, “We’ll just play and let everyone else decide.”

The top-ranked Tigers will open the season Aug. 29 at home against Class 6A Dothan at 7 p.m.

The Tigers will play a pre-season game with Lee County (Ga.) Aug. 21. Kickoff for that contest is set for 6:30 p.m. at Tiger Stadium.