EDMONTON — Edmonton Eskimos head coach Jason Maas couldn’t contain his excitement when asked about his team’s newly-acquired quarterback Trevor Harris.

During Maas’ press conference, that was on the same day Harris was introduced to members of the media in Edmonton, the Eskimos bench boss smiled from ear-to-ear when talking about the team’s biggest free agent signing.

“He wants to raise the bar,” Maas said of his new pivot. “You can tell when you talk to Trevor and you’re around Trevor, he loves football and understands it extremely well. He understands cultures and understands what being a teammate is all about. He has given everything he’s got to be as good as he can be.”

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Harris spent the last three seasons with the Ottawa REDBLACKS (2016-2018). He won a Grey Cup Championship as the team’s backup behind Henry Burris and led the REDBLACKS to a Grey Cup appearance after taking over in the starting role when Burris retired.

Before joining Ottawa, the six-foot-three, 212-pound gunslinger spent four seasons in Toronto with the Argonauts (2012-2015) learning from some of the best in the business and taking advantage of the opportunities in front of him.

“He’s done everything,” Maas said. “He’s been a backup, a third-string guy, a starter, led a franchise to a Grey Cup, replaced Ricky (Ray) when he was hurt and did extremely well. (He) moved into a new city to wait in line again with Henry (Burris) and won a championship together and be a great teammate. Any time he was called upon, he did his job.”

Not only is his head coach excited to welcome Harris into the Eskimos organization through 2020, Harris himself is thrilled for the latest chapter in his CFL career.

“To say that I’m viciously motivated and excited to be here would be a massive understatement,” Harris told members of the media. “To be a part of this culture and this city and the fans, the greatness that I’m getting a chance to walk into. I just want to do my part, be a cog in the engine, come in here and lead these guys as best I know I can and try and raise the bar as high as we can.”

Along with Harris, two other former REDBLACKS follow their quarterback to the West Division. Receiver Greg Ellingson and offensive tackle SirVincent Rogers also signed with the Eskimos after hitting the free agent market.

“I got on the phone with Greg (Ellingson) immediately,” said Harris. “Him and I talked quite regularly through the process of (it). (I thought) it would be really cool if we could wind up together and not only that, my blindside’s protected by the same guy for the fourth year in a row now. We’re all excited to be here and to be a part of the Edmonton culture and the Edmonton organization. We’re not REDBLACKS anymore. We’re Edmonton Eskimos and we’re elated to be here.”

“To be a quarterback in this league,” Maas said. “To me you’re smart, you’re accurate, you’re tough and you’re consistent. And I’ve seen all of those attributes with Trevor in every situation.”

– With files from Esks.com