Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No. 35 Jaden Harris
The Miami Hurricanes have massively reshaped the roster from a year ago with five primary offensive starters gone (QB Tyler Van Dyke, RB Henry Parrish, WR Colbie Young, OL Javion Cohen and Matt Lee) along with seven on the defensive side (DT Leonard Taylor, DT Branson Deen, DL Jared Harrison-Hunte, S Kam Kinchens, S James Williams, CB Jaden Davis and CB Te’Cory Couch).
50. RB JORDAN LYLE … 49. RB CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON … 48. DE COLE MCCONATHY … 47. S ZAQUAN PATTERSON … 46. TE CAM MCCORMICK … 45. NY CARR … 44. JUSTIN SCOTT … 43. OT Markel Bell … 42. RB AJAY ALLEN … 41. TE RILEY WILLIAMS … 40. OL MATTHEW MCCOY … 39. LB CAM PRUITT … 38. DT JOSHUA HORTON … 37. LB RAUL AGUIRRE … 36. S MARKEITH WILLIAMS
Which brings us to our annual series breaking down the top 50 players on the current roster. As we go along on this list you’ll get an idea of the overall depth of talent on Mario Cristobal’s team this year as he seeks Miami’s second 10-win season in the last two decades.
Today we are at No. 35:
NO. 35 S JADEN HARRIS
Why He’s No. 35
At this time last year we ranked Harris No. 46 on this list, and he’s made a decent move upward after starting a couple of games last year when Kam Kinchens was out. Was Harris a consistent standout in his 130 reps? Not so much, but he did flash at times and now is very much in the mix to start at safety with Kinchens and James Williams both gone. The likely starters at safety right now are Harris and Markeith Williams … unless the team moves Washington transfer Mishael Powell from nickel to safety in the fall, which has a decent chance of happening. Last season Harris had seven tackles and shared a tackle for a loss. Per Pro Football Focus he graded out at 54.4 percent overall (57.6 run defense, 82.7 tackle grade, 53.9 cover grade). He was noted being targeted in coverage five times, allowing three catches for 41 yards. A former 4-star recruit in the Class of 2022 out of Georgia, Harris redshirted as a freshman that year (played four games and 18 reps, struggled and gave up 69-yard TD in coverage vs. Middle Tennessee).
What he needs to do to move up this list
Harris has the physical tool to succeed at a solidly built 5-11 and 196 pounds, and Miami even worked him at nickel in spring ball of 2023, so he does have that coverage ability as needed. But consistency is really the issue here. He’ll be in the right spot and position himself to make plays but then has some issues at other times. So if he’s going to start this year he has to really show Lance Guidry this fall that he “gets” it.
Realistic season objective
If Powell moves back to safety we see a battle between Markeith Williams and Jaden Harris brewing for the other spot … and either could win out. There’s a reason we have Williams 36th on this list and Harris 35th … they really are basically neck-and-neck with both having talent but not much experience and some consistency issues. Whichever of them does get on the field most this year will have plenty of opportunities to make plays in a defensive scheme that lets the safety blitz, cover and roam the back end.
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