Former Oregon All-American Cliff Harris arrested on drug charges

Former Oregon cornerback and All-American punt returner Cliff Harris was arrested on suspicion of drug possession and theft after police responded to a disturbance at a party in Clovis, California.

“Harris was booked into Fresno County Jail for theft, possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, and revocation of post-release community supervision,” the department said.

Harris, who helped lead the Ducks to the BCS National Championship game against Auburn in 2011, has had many run-ins with the law. He was kicked off the team in 2011 after a state trooper stopped him for allegedly driving 118 mph on a suspended license. In 2013, he signed with the New York Jets, but was cut after being arrested on a marijuana possession charge.

Harris’ mother posted an impassioned plea for her son on Facebook, asking friends and family to pray for her son.

“Many of you will laugh, mock and make jokes… And it’s ok if that’s what you want to do..,” wrote Lizette Harris. “Regardless of Cliff going through one of the hardest times of his life, regardless of him fighting through all the demons that’s trying destroy him and regardless that he never became that NFL LOCK DOWN CORNER. He will always be my son.”

In 2015, Harris was placed on three-year probation and sentenced to a year in jail in connection with setting a grass fire in Fresno.

According to the Fresno Bee, during Harris’ sentencing a court-appointed psychiatrist told a Fresno County judge that Harris had the degenerative brain disease CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, injuries common in athletes who take repeated blows to the head.

At the time, Harris was taking psychotropic medication and was ordered by a judge to continue seeing a psychiatrist.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday