Toni Harris
Antoinette "Toni" Harris (born July 29, 1996) [1] is an American college football player who is a safety for Central Methodist University in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).[2] She is the first woman to receive a full college football scholarship as a non-specialist, and the second woman to ever play football on scholarship.[3]
| Central Methodist Eagles | |
|---|---|
| Position | Safety |
| Career history | |
| College |
|
| High school | Redford Union High School (Redford, MI) |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | July 29, 1996 Detroit, Michigan |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
Born in Detroit,[4] she played football for her high school, Redford Union High School, in Redford, Michigan.[4]
Two years later Harris moved to California to play free safety at East Los Angeles College, where she played for two years under the direction of Head Coach Bobby Godinez. She became the first woman to ever play for East Los Angeles College,[5] and earned six offers to play a defensive football position at four-year universities.
In 2019 she was the focus and star of a Super Bowl commercial for the Toyota RAV4.[6]
References
- "Antoinette Harris on Instagram: "Thank you God for allowing me to see another birthday, I bless your name. For my heart that beats all day, the eyes you have given me to…"". Instagram. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
- Florio, John; Shapiro, Ouisie (August 27, 2019). "Toni Harris made history by getting a football scholarship. Now she needs to make tackles". The Undefeated. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- Adam Rittenberg (18 January 2018). "NAIA school offers scholarship to female safety". ESPN.com.
- Johnson, Chris (January 19, 2018). "Antoinette Harris receives college football scholarship". Sports Illustrated.
- Moriarty, Morgan (18 January 2018). "She might be the 2nd woman to earn a CFB scholarship". SB Nation.
- KRISTINE MALICSE (4 February 2019). "Female ELAC football player 'inspiring a generation' in Super Bowl commercial". Daily News.