East Los Angeles College's Toni Harris becomes first female non-kicker to sign letter of intent

East Los Angeles College's Toni Harris becomes first female non-kicker to sign letter of intent
February 27, 2019

Tom VanHaaren
ESPN Staff Writer

MONTEREY PARK - Toni Harris made history Tuesday, becoming the first female football player at a skill position to sign a letter of intent, accepting a scholarship to Central Methodist University in Missouri.

Harris first made news when she was offered a scholarship in January 2018 to play football at Bethany College, an NAIA school in Kansas.

 
The 5-foot-7, 164-pound safety from Detroit had been playing football at East Los Angeles College in California for the past two seasons and will now further her college career at Central Methodist.
 
The free safety, one of the first women non-kickers on a college football roster, hopes her appearance in Sunday's ad inspires young girls.

Shelby Osborne signed with Campbellsville University in Kentucky in 2014, but she was not initially on scholarship. The defensive back later received a partial scholarship while enrolled at the school.

Harris began playing football at age 6 in Detroit, and she eventually played wide receiver and cornerback at Redford Union High School in Michigan. She missed the 2017 season at East Los Angeles College, but had three tackles and one tackle for loss in 2018.

Featured in a Toyota commercial that aired during the Super Bowl, Harris has had a spotlight on her journey since she received her first offer from Bethany College.

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