Rahjai Harris picked up his agent's call and heard just three words.
A question.
“Are you ready?”
Harris was more than ready.
He’d been grinding for over a year, preparing for his opportunity to play professional football. That opportunity finally came, as last week, the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL) signed Harris to their roster for the upcoming season.
“Anything can happen at anytime, and I knew that, so I stayed ready,” said Harris. “I got off the phone with my agent, signed the paperwork, and [St. Louis Battlehawks head coach] Ricky Proehl called me about 15 minutes later. He sounded so excited to have me on the team. I felt the love for sure.”
Harris, who was a star running back at Byrnes High School and East Carolina University, went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. He didn’t give up, working every day and continuing to put himself out there for potential roster positions at every level.
He stayed true to his “one percent better every day” mindset, and after waiting nearly 400 days, Harris gets his shot.
“I left it all out there on the field in my last game [for East Carolina],” said Harris, referring to his 220-yard, touchdown performance in ECU’s 2024 Military Bowl win over NC State. “It’s just a testament that you’ve always got to believe. You’ve got to stay ready, so that when your name is called, you’re set to go.”
Harris will fly out to St. Louis to begin training with the Battlehawks in late February. The season kicks off for Harris and St. Louis on March 28 — a home game vs. the DC Defenders.
“We’re hitting the ground running,” said Harris. “I can’t wait to get out there and show the world what I can do.
“I can’t wait to show people what I’ve been cooking at home, just waiting for this opportunity to come.”
For more coverage of Greer-area athletics, follow @GreerNewsSports on X.
