Antoinette "Toni" Harris made college football history this week by becoming the first female skill position player to sign a letter of intent.
The 5-7, 164-pound safety announced Tuesday her commitment to Central Methodist University, a Division I NAIA college in Fayette, Mo. The university said Harris chose CMU over five other schools that had made offers. Multiple reports said Harris also received an offer from Bethany College, an NAIA school in Kansas.
Prior to signing with CMU, she played two seasons at East Los Angeles College, one of the largest community colleges in the LA district.
Such a cry baby but I’m ready for my new journey @CMUEaglesFB ! #FL19HTCREW #TakeFlight 🦅 pic.twitter.com/Evz2YPEyIn
— Toni Harris ✨ (@_Antoinetteeeee) February 26, 2019
Harris has had to navigate a difficult path as a female trying to excel in a male-dominated sport.
"A lot of coaches didn't believe in me," Harris told ESPN in January. "A coach told me, 'Nobody's ever going to play you to be at the next level.' In the end, you’ve got to push yourself."
MORE: Before Harris, there was Becca Longo
Growing up in Detroit, Harris began playing football at age 6. She later played wide receiver and cornerback for her high school.
College ball is a big milestone, but Harris wants to go a lot farther. She has dreams of becoming the first woman to play in the NFL, and she already has her mind made up on the team: the Seattle Seahawks.
Toni Harris ( @_Antoinetteeeee ) just became the first female skill position player to receive a college football scholarship.
— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2019
And she has dreams of playing in the NFL for the @Seahawks 🙌 pic.twitter.com/8gH2g1ytRR
Harris made headlines with her commitment about two years after kicker Becca Longo became the first woman to sign a national letter of intent with an NCAA Division I or Division II school. Longo signed with NCAA Division II Adams State in April 2017.