Ealey and Harmon reunite as C.R. Titans

CEDAR RAPIDS – Before last Saturday, it had been five years since Washaun Ealey and A.J. Harmon shared a football field.

The former University of Georgia teammates were reunited when the Cedar Rapids Titans signed Harmon April 23 and immediately inserted the 6-foot-5, 340-pound offensive lineman into the starting lineup.

'He's a big guy with good feet and I knew he could get the job done,” said Ealey, the Cedar Rapids tailback who ranks third in the Indoor Football League in both rushing yards (324) and touchdowns (11). 'It's a great feeling to have somebody you know you can trust that's going to go hard every play.”

Ealey and Harmon prepped 38 miles apart in central Georgia before playing for the Bulldogs from 2009-10. Both arrived on campus as heralded blue-chip recruits – Ealey was the state's all-time touchdown leader, Harmon the nation's No. 2 offensive guard recruit according to Rivals.com – but separated when each fell out of favor with the coaching staff. Ealey transferred to Jacksonville State, while Harmon finished his college career at NAIA-level Cumberland.

Cedar Rapids' 52-49 loss to Green Bay last Saturday was Harmon's first game action since college.

'The first play I felt like I was in quicksand,” Harmon said with a laugh. 'My legs were heavy, but as soon as I put my hands on the guy, all the pressure went away and I was ready to play after that.”

After college, Ealey had an NFL tryout with the Washington Redskins before signing with Cedar Rapids late last season. Never afraid to put his 5-foot-11, 225-pound frame to effective use against oncoming pass rushers, Ealey has proven very versatile with 14 receptions out of the backfield for 113 yards and three scores. He has at least one touchdown in all eight games for Cedar Rapids (5-3).

'It's just basically having a nose for the end zone and hard running,” Ealey said. 'Just trying to get in the end zone whenever you get the ball.”

The Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL each had Harmon in minicamp before last season, as did the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League. As Harmon sought a new opportunity to play ball, in stepped Ealey, who recommended his former college teammate to Cedar Rapids Coach Mark Stoute.

'He (Ealey) said just get ready to come in and work,” Harmon said. 'He (Stoute) wants you to make plays, he wants you to block, he wants you to play hard. He (Ealey) just said be prepared. It's not going to be a cakewalk here.”

Saturday, Cedar Rapids visits the Wichita Falls Nighthawks (3-4). After opening the season with four-straight losses, Wichita Falls has won three games in a row.

Cedar Rapids returns to the U.S. Cellular Center May 9 for a rematch with Wichita Falls.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com