By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com

FAYETTEVILLE — Matt Harris has plenty of regret.

The former Arkansas safety knows it was a decision he’ll live with forever. Skipping out after curfew two nights before the Liberty Bowl cost him a chance to play in his final game. More important, it cost him the opportunity to spend a few more hours on the field with his Arkansas teammates.

“I’m sure I’ll go to the grave with that regret,” Harris said Tuesday. “It was a dumb decision that I made and I paid dearly for it.

“I wasn’t so mad about missing the game or playing in it. I knew eventually there’s going to be a last game. But just to not say good-bye to guys like Lucas (Miller) and DB’s I’ve been with for years and the connection, just to hug and say good game, I can’t believe we did it and get a bowl win. Not to experience that was the hardest part for sure.”

Harris, who was suspended along with senior linebacker Wendel Davis and junior wide receiver Marques Wade for missing curfew, spoke to the media about the suspension for the first time Tuesday. He was one of 15 former Razorbacks working out for professional scouts as part of Arkansas’ annual Pro Day inside the Walker Indoor Pavilion.

Like all of them, Harris is trying to make an impression. He’s not projected to be selected during the seven-round draft like teammates Mitch Petrus and Malcolm Sheppard, but is hoping to earn another opportunity to play football somewhere.

“All you need is a shot,” Harris said.

Harris’ path to pro day was a little different from the rest of Arkansas’ outgoing seniors. He and Davis — who was not available for comment Tuesday — never got to step on the field at the Liberty Bowl.

Petrino dismissed both players after their curfew violations. It was a shock to Davis and Harris, who were second and third on the team in tackles, respectively. It was also hard for Petrino, who said sending both home was an emotional decision.

“It wasn’t a happy moment for either of us,” Harris said. “Petrino is kind of a hard guy and not a very emotional guy. When he had to do that, it really showed me a lot about what kind of man he is too. … To have to look him in the eye and man up and say, ‘I’m sorry. I accept the consequences.’ He didn’t want to do it and I didn’t want to accept it. But we both had to do what we had to do.”

Harris, who is the son of former Dallas Cowboys safety Cliff Harris, wasn’t in Memphis when the Razorbacks beat East Carolina in overtime on Jan. 2. Instead, he watched from his father’s home.

But he kept his teammates close. In fact, Miller said Harris called several times before the game. And when sophomore Tramain Thomas, his replacement, returned an interception for a touchdown in a game the Hogs won, Harris erupted in celebration.

Harris didn’t know what to expect when he returned to campus after the game. He met with Arkansas’ weight room staff and athletic director Jeff Long, who welcomed him back to prepare for pro day.

“I thought it was going to be awkward at first, but they made it just like it was before,” he said.

Miller, one of Harris’ close friends, said he didn’t expect anything else.

“He made a mistake,” Miller said. “It happens. To me, that doesn’t say anything about his character because I know what kind of person he is.”

Harris ran the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds and notched 10 feet in the broad jump during his workout Tuesday. But it wasn’t necessarily the measurables that impressed Harris afterward.

When it was over, pro scouts walked up to Harris, shook his hand and told him he did a good job. It was enough for Harris — who doesn’t have an agent — to believe it’s time to get some representation.

“I didn’t want to waste my time at this pro day with an agent if I was going to come in here and no one talked to you and you just looked like an idiot,” Harris said. “But right now I think I’m going to make a few phone calls. … I know it’s pretty good now. I’ll go with someone.”

What does it mean for Harris’ chances of playing professional football? Harris really won’t know the answer to that until after the draft, when free agent contracts and camp invitations are doled out to players who weren’t selected over the weekend.

But Harris did accomplish at least one thing Tuesday morning: He was back on the field with some of his Arkansas teammates.

“I wanted to come in (Tuesday) and leave here with a clear conscience,” Harris said afterward. “I think I can do that. Regardless of if you get picked up or not, if it’s in God’s plan to get you to the next level … If not, if there’s something better than pro football, that’s exciting, too.”