Ant Harris Added to Vikings Active Roster

Former L.C. Bird safety and quarterback, Ant Harris, got some long-awaited and well-deserved news last week. The former UVA standout was added to the Minnesota Vikings active roster.

The move was announced when the Vikings placed Antone Exum on injured reserve, per the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

After some mock drafts had him going as high as the fourth round, Harris’ draft stock slipped, probably due to his size and an injury that caused him to miss his pro day and the senior bowl – not for a lack of quality in play. Though he wasn’t selected, he was immediately signed as a free agent by Minnesota once the draft concluded. Harris went to training camp and got cut, but was resigned to the Vikings’ practice squad.

At UVA, the defensive back burst onto the national scene in his junior season, leading the nation with eight interceptions. During his senior season, he racked up 108 tackles, averaging 91 tackles per season over his last three years with the Cavaliers.

For L.C. Bird, Harris was a leader on the field and in the classroom, and overcame a broken leg during his junior season as a Skyhawk. Despite the injury, the University of Virginia was greatly rewarded for putting their stock in Harris.

Should he appear for the Minnesota Vikings in Thursday’s game vs. the Arizona Cardinals on NFL Network, he will become the third L.C. Bird player to don an NFL uniform joining Jason Snelling (Atlanta Falcons) and Doug Chapman (Minnesota Vikings).

If the playoffs started today, the 8-4 Vikings would qualify for a wild card. As of press time, they hold a one game advantage over the Seattle Seahawks for the fifth seed.