{{Short description|American football player (born 1996)}} {{Infobox college football player | embed = | name = Toni Harris | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | currentnumber = | currentposition = Safety | class = | pastschools = * East Los Angeles College (2017–2018) * Central Methodist University (2019–2021) | bowlgames = | highschool = Redford Union High School (Redford, Michigan) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1996|07|29}} | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan | death_date = | death_place = | highlights = | CFBHOF_year = | module = | espn = | cbs = | si = | yahoo = | rivals = }} '''Antoinette''' "'''Toni'''" '''Harris''' (born July 29, 1996) <ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl0giyCBrJ-/| first=Antoinette | last=Harris |website= Instagram | title=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… | publisher= |language=en|access-date=2019-03-03}}</ref> is an American former college football player who was a safety for Central Methodist University in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).<ref>{{cite news| last1=Florio|first1=John|last2=Shapiro|first2=Ouisie|title=Toni Harris made history by getting a football scholarship. Now she needs to make tackles.| date= August 27, 2019|work=Andscape| url=https://andscape.com/features/antoinette-harris-made-history-by-getting-a-football-scholarship-central-methodist-university/| accessdate= August 28, 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/22144192|title=NAIA school offers scholarship to female safety|date=18 January 2018| work= ESPN.com| first=Adam | last= Rittenberg}}</ref>
==Early life and family== Antoinette Harris was born in Detroit, Michigan.<ref name= Johnson>{{cite magazine| url= https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/01/19/belthany-antoinette-harris-woman-scholarship| date=January 19, 2018|title=Antoinette Harris receives college football scholarship| first=Chris|last=Johnson| publisher= | magazine=Sports Illustrated | accessdate= }}</ref> She played football for her high school, Redford Union High School, in Redford, Michigan.<ref name=Johnson />
==College== Two years after graduating high school, Harris moved to California to play free safety at East Los Angeles College, where she played for two years (2018–19)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.elacathletics.com/sports/fball/2018-19/bios/harris_toni_ckgo | title=Toni Harris }}</ref> under the direction of Head Coach Bobby Godinez. She became the first woman to ever play for East Los Angeles College.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/1/18/16908018/antoinette-toni-harris-female-safety-scholarship-bethany-college|title=She might be the 2nd woman to earn a CFB scholarship| first=Morgan|last=Moriarty|date=18 January 2018|publisher=SB Nation}}</ref> She received six offers to play football at four-year universities.
Harris graduated with honors from Central Methodist University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Her athletic eligibility remains available due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She has intended to pursue a Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice at the University of Southern California. She has not decided how she will use eligibility, but she plans to continue playing football.
==In media== In 2019, she was featured in a Super Bowl commercial for the Toyota RAV4.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.dailynews.com/female-elac-football-player-inspiring-a-generation-in-super-bowl-commercial |title=Female ELAC football player 'inspiring a generation' in Super Bowl commercial |date=4 February 2019| work=Daily News| first= Kristine| last= Malicse | accessdate=}}</ref>
==See also== * List of female American football players
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1RvmqYr7D4 Toni Harris, featured in Super Bowl ad, aspires to be 1st female NFL player] (CBS Mornings on YouTube)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Toni}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Detroit Category:Female players of American football Category:21st-century American sportswomen Category:East Los Angeles College alumni Category:Players of American football from Los Angeles Category:21st-century African-American sportswomen Category:People from Redford, Michigan Category:Players of American football from Wayne County, Michigan Category:Central Methodist Eagles football players Category:East Los Angeles Huskies football players