All Southern Utah University linebacker Marques Harris wanted was a chance to play in the National Football League. That opportunity didn't come through the draft, but multiple offers still came in for his services.
Sunday afternoon, Harris, 6-foot-1, 231 pounds, agreed to a two-year free-agent contract with the San Diego Chargers, after fielding offers from Dallas, Green Bay and Jacksonville.
"It's in my hands now and I can take it (the opportunity) as far as I want to," Harris said Sunday afternoon. "I have to be hungry and go in and make the team."
The deal also includes what Harris calls a better-than-normal free-agent signing bonus. He expects the deal to be finalized within the next two weeks.
"When nothing was happening (in the later rounds) my agent and I were hoping I wouldn't get drafted," Harris said. "I got to chose the best opportunity for me.
"For one, it's a great opportunity, and two, I get to play football and live in San Diego."
Harris, who led Southern Utah with 11 sacks and 25 tackles for loss, was projected by some to go as high as the third or fourth round. Others projected him as a free-agent signee.
"I was disappointed," he said.
Many teams questioned Harris' ability to come back from a broken leg, which he suffered at the University of Colorado, as well as the off-the-field problems he had with the football scandal at the university.
Harris, who played defensive end at Colorado, proved he could play the outside linebacker position with his all-Great West Football Conference and all-American season with the T-Birds. He finished with 65 tackles — third-best on the team.
At the same time, he also proved he put the off-the-field problems behind him.
"Because of his success he had initially at the University of Colorado, we had scouts in here every week, every day of the week. They would come and come and some would return," SUU coach Wes Meier said.
"I think they got a good opportunity to see he was a strong candidate (for the NFL). He also had a good showing at the combine."
At the combine, Harris ran the 40-yard dash in 4.75 seconds, had a 40 1/2 inch vertical jump and bench-pressed 225 pounds 22 times.
"I think that's a good fit for him," Meier said. "He's pretty excited about it. It feels like the situation is right for him to go out there. Hopefully things will work out for him."
Harris will report for a three-day mini rookie camp May 6 in San Diego.
E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com