FOXES KICKER HARRAN ZUREIKAT NO. 1 IN NATION, HEADED TO GEORGIA
FOXES KICKER HARRAN ZUREIKAT NO. 1 IN NATION, HEADED TO GEORGIA
W hen the University of Georgia flew in one of its top recruits – Foxes kicker Harran Zureikat – to its game against rival Alabama this fall, it marked one of the senior’ s biggest thrills of his life. It may also be one of the last times in a while that he watches a football game instead of being out on the turf.
“ To think that I’ ll be on the field instead of the stands in less than a year is unreal,” says Harran, the No. 1 kicker in the country for the past three years, who accepted a full scholarship to play for the Bulldogs.
Locally, Harran has set standards that won’ t soon be matched. This season, he drilled a 57-yard field goal that broke the WPIAL record and was within striking distance of the state’ s top mark. During the summer at the elite Kohl’ s Kicking Camp, he booted a 65-yard field goal, longer than the Pennsylvania high school record of 64 yards.
Breaking the WPIAL record“ was the best moment of my career so far,” Harran says.“ I’ d be lying if I said I didn’ t have some butterflies, but they were more about excitement. Now, looking back, it just drives me to be even better.”
Harran’ s achievements have had far-reaching impressions. In addition to leading the nation as a kicker, he is also fourth in the nation as a punter. This season at Fox Chapel Area, he recorded a 98 % touchback rate, consistently punting for 75 to 80 yards. He was also selected as an Under Armour first-team All-American. Prior to his junior year, MaxPreps named him to their preseason junior All-America team. He credits his offseason efforts as the impetus for his national exposure.
“ I like the fact that( elite competition) national ID camps make me better, while also allowing me to see how I compare to others,” Harran says.“ That’ s the most helpful thing.”
Harran’ s foray into football came by coincidence since his focus had always been on soccer.
“ I was at Carnegie Mellon University, and we were just throwing around a football,” Harran recalls.“ We decided to start kicking, and that’ s when I found out I could kick 40 yards. I didn’ t think anything of it at the time, but then in eighth grade, I started for the middle school football team.”
He continued balancing both sports through ninth grade, but as a sophomore, he turned his full attention to football. Still, he didn’ t want to just kick; he wanted to be a kicker who could set records, stand out as a special teams player, and become a game-changer. Even now, it’ s the sheer thrill of competing that drives him.
What sets Harran apart is his drive for perfection, attention to detail, and steadiness.
Foxes head coach David Leasure calls him a generational talent.
“ Harran is not just one of a kind for Fox Chapel Area,” he says.“ He is one of a kind, period. When you are considered the best in the country at something, it pretty much separates you from everyone else. There is talent, and then there is talent that works hard. When you have the kind of talent that he has, and then you work tirelessly to perfect your craft, what happens is you become the best at what you do.”
Harran recognizes that his is a rare position, and he plans to prove himself at Georgia, knowing that to do so, he must rely on his discipline and attention to detail.
Harran’ s message to individuals who have high goals is simple but powerful:“ Find something you love, and work as hard as you can at it. My high school experience was great. I had so many wins and lessons that made me who I am today. I stay in contact with everyone from my old school( Shady Side Academy), while also making sure to keep up with the friends I made here.”
Harran’ s younger brother, junior Sharif Zureikat, is an all- WPIAL defender on the Foxes’ WPIAL champion boys soccer team. Harran also has a brother in fourth grade who says he wants to be a kicker.
In the meantime, in Harran’ s mind, one thing is certain: He isn’ t done chasing or setting records.
“ Whatever the highest achievement is, that’ s what I want to get,” Harran says. ox Chapel Area
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