Lorenzo Harrison impacted by community service

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Lorenzo Harrison will tell you, he regrets his role in last November’s on-campus BB gun incident which led to his indefinite suspension and caused him to miss the final four games of the year.

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It punctured a promising freshman season, and was, and still is, negative baggage. But in hindsight, the process of cleaning up a reputation through community service has changed Harrison for the better.

“I felt like I owed it,” Harrison said. “It focused me. I put my head in the right place. I mean, I’m looking at it as the best way I can. I felt like it put an emphasis on what I need to do.”

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Since then, Harrison has participated in a number of community service activities, but what’s impacted him the most is the time he spent at a local food pantry; giving back and interacting with the needy.

“You see the people coming in there, you see how fortunate you are,” Harrison said. “Like, you really feel good helping those people. You see how much you have, and it really makes you feel great to help other people.”

It’s a different side of Harrison, a sincerity that, largely due to being a freshman, was nonexistent his freshman year. On and off the field, it’s showed. Harrison appears to be a step quicker and his assignments are much crisper and more confident.

“He’s a really good person. … Now he has a much better understanding of how to play the position within our offense,” Durkin said. “Sometimes last year, he made some great plays, but he’s out there kind of running around a bit and doesn’t quite know. Now he’s a guy who knows where things are at.”

Harrison has also valued his health more than ever. With a better diet and fellow running back counterpart Ty Johnson to hold him accountable, he’s tacked on a few pounds of muscle, now weighing at 195.

“When I first came in, I didn’t take care of my body the way I should,” Harrison said. “He helped me along, saying, ‘You need to do this. You need to stretch here, here and here.’ I think that’s been the most helpful he’s been with just telling me to take care of my body.”