Jaden Harris spent his initial two seasons with the Miami Hurricanes waiting for his chance to shine.
It seems that chance has arrived.
On Tuesday, defensive coordinator Lance Guidry announced that Harris is set to start at safety alongside Washington transfer Mishael Powell. This move comes as the Hurricanes seek to fill the void left by Kam Kinchens and James Williams, who are now in the NFL and played a significant role in Harris’ development during his first two seasons in Coral Gables.
“Learning from those guys has helped me grow more as a person than as a player,” said Harris, a redshirt sophomore, on Wednesday. “I feel fortunate to have them in my life. We still communicate daily.”
Harris, a three-star recruit from Atlanta Riverwood High School, appeared in 10 games last season and started against Bethune-Cookman and Temple, though his overall playing time was limited. He recorded just seven tackles, including three in the Temple game.
With the changes in Miami’s secondary since last season, Harris anticipated a larger role this year. Despite limited playing time, he has taken a proactive approach, becoming one of the more vocal leaders during spring practice and summer workouts.
“I’m working on leading these guys,” Harris said. “I want to support the younger players and give my best every day.”
THREE HURRICANES RECEIVERS NAMED TO WATCH LIST
The Hurricanes’ wide receiver corps looks exceptionally strong this year, with their top three receivers — Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, and Houston transfer Sam Brown — all being named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list on Wednesday. This prestigious award is given annually to the best receiver in college football, and Miami is the only school to have three players on the 49-person list.
Restrepo and George both had standout seasons in 2023. Restrepo set a school record with 85 receptions, amassing 1,092 receiving yards — the second-highest in the Atlantic Coast Conference — and six touchdowns. George added 57 catches for 864 yards and eight touchdowns. Now, with Brown joining the mix, who caught 62 passes for 815 yards and three touchdowns with Houston last season before transferring to Miami, the Hurricanes’ receiving unit is poised to be a formidable force.
QUOTABLES
- Defensive Coordinator Lance Guidry on the defensive line rotation: “Some years, you might play more, and other years, you have to go with the guys you’ve got. This year, I believe we’ll have more opportunities to rotate players. We’re still assessing, especially after live scrimmages, to see how some of the younger players, like freshman defensive lineman Justin Scott, are progressing. He’s shown promise, but we’ll get a clearer picture as the season progresses.”
- Offensive Coordinator Shannon Dawson on tight end Elijah Arroyo: “Elijah is a talented player with a lot of versatility. He’s a good receiver, blocks well, and can even carry the ball. He just needs to continue competing and improving his skills. While he has shown up consistently, like everyone else, he can always work on being more consistent.”
- Senior kicker Andres Borregales on his development since freshman year: “Looking back at my freshman year, I realize I was a bit timid on the field because everything was new to me. While I was confident in my abilities, the last three offseasons have been focused on hard work and improvement. I’ve grown both mentally and physically, and the difference between my freshman year self and now feels like night and day.”