Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 46 Jaden Harris
No. 50 Miami DT Thomas Gore … No. 49 Malik Curtis … No. 48 Kaleb Spencer … No. 47 Ahmad Moten
CaneSport is breaking down the top 50 post-spring players on the roster, a list that doesn’t include any post-spring roster additions. Today we break down No. 46, Jaden Harris.
NO. 46 MIAMI STAR/NICKEL JADEN HARRIS
Why he’s No. 46
Harris redshirted last year but this spring was the second-team STAR/nickel behind returning starter Te’Cory Couch and he is a guy with the physical tools to succeed at the position. Harris also got work at safety this spring with depth there thin, showing his versatility. “(Harris is) a sharp enough kid to have almost a major in one area and a minor in another,” DB coach Jahmile Addae said. Last season at nickel Harris struggled in the four games in which he did see action. He played 18 reps and one of those vs. Middle Tennessee ended in a 69-yard touchdown. But that is in the past, and he’s had a lot of time to work on his craft and should start to be able to contribute this season.
What he needs to do to move up this list
Lance Guidry uses a STAR/nickel in his 4-2-5 defense, and this spring it was returning starter Te’Cory Couch in that role with Harris right behind him. It’s really not all that different a position from what Kevin Steele did at Miami, but it’ll probably be more blitz calls and a closer to the line of scrimmage type deal in a more aggressive approach favored by Lance Guidry. So with that in mind what Harris needs to do to move up the list is to perform. He’ll get his opportunities, assuming he holds onto the second team job this fall. What Harris needs to do is make the most of his opportunities and in particular be very physical at the point of attack while staying solid in coverage. That’s a must for the 5-11, 180-pounder.
Realistic season objective
The former 4-star recruit out of Georgia in the Class of 2022 has a lot of upside in his second year at Miami and could also fit in as a backup safety. Yes, he had a rough true freshman season in very limited action. But that shouldn’t define him – it was his true freshman season. So this year we expect Harris to take a step to the next level and be ready to be a steady contributor to the team in a second team role. He needs to use this season to lay the groundwork for making a seamless transition to starter when the senior Couch is gone.
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