RB Harris to return to UM for another season
University of Miami junior leading rusher Cam’Ron Harris has reaffirmed his devotion to the Hurricanes and announced Friday on Twitter that he will return for next season rather than enter the NFL Draft.
Harris, who started and ended the season strong for the Hurricanes but struggled on and off in between, posted on social media in late October that he was “disrespected” after subpar performances against Clemson, Pittsburgh and Virginia. But he will be back for at least one more year after the NCAA granted every player an extra year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Harris would still have remaining eligibility after next season.
“To my brothers out there I motivate this is a message you should all grasp,” Harris posted as part of a longer statement. “God gives you the tools to take you part of the way and I will never stop emphasizing how important it is go put in the blood, sweat and tears to get you
the rest of the way.”
The former consensus fourstar prospect was rated the nation’s seventh-best running back out of Miami Carol City High and became Miami’s featured tailback this season after DeeJay Dallas was drafted in the fourth round by the Seattle Seahawks. Harris rushed for 643 yards and a team-leading 10 touchdowns on 126 carries in 11 games this season, averaging 5.1 yards a carry.
He began the season with two strong games against UAB and Louisville, running for 134 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries against Alabama Birmingham and another 134 yards and a touchdown on nine carries at Louisville.
After rushing for 43 yards and two touchdowns against Florida State, Harris gained a combined 35 yards on 28 carries, with no touchdowns (and one 35-yard touchdown catch against Pittsburgh) in a loss at then-No. 1 Clemson and wins against Pittsburgh and Virginia.
Freshmen Donald Chaney Jr. and Jaylon Knighton also were rotated in the running game on a regular basis, clearly demonstrating that coaches intend to use them frequently. And Thad Franklin, a consensus four-star prospect out of Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, signed with the Canes on Dec.16.
Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said after Harris posted his tweet in frustration, which the tailback deleted soon afterward, that he and running backs coach Eric Hickson spoke with Harris about the situation.
Harris ended the season well by rushing for 52 yards and a touchdown on six carries (8.7 yards a carry) against Oklahoma State in the Cheez-It Bowl, adding two catches for 38 yards.
Here’s what he tweeted after the bowl: “We Fought Hard As a Team I love My Guys! We don’t point fingers at one another, We Win Together and We Lose Together. Blessed To Be A Part of this program.’’
Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee replied, “Proud of you.’’
UF’S TRASK TO ENTER DRAFT
Kyle Trask’s Gators career is officially over. Florida’s star quarterback announced late Thursday that he would not use his extra year of eligibility, instead opting to enter the NFL draft.
The decision was not a surprise. But Trask’s announcement does end one of the most remarkable careers in Florida college football history. He was a backup quarterback in high school, stuck at Texas’ Manvel
High behind future Houston and Miami star D’Eriq King.
Trask arrived at UF in 2016 as almost an afterthought — a low three-star recruit who wasn’t even the top quarterback prospect in the Gators’ recruiting class. He spent three-plus years on the bench and watched four different quarterbacks start in front of him.
After season-ending injuries in 2017 and 2018, Trask got his chance in 2019 when starter
Feleipe Franks sustained a season-ending ankle injury. In 2020, Trask became the first 4,000-yard passer in Gators history and broke Danny Wuerffel’s single-season record with 43 passing touchdowns.
He’s one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy, which will be awarded Tuesday.
— TAMPA BAY TIMES Florida coach Dan Mullen
● has fired two defensive assistants in the wake of the unit’s worst season in more than a hundred years. Mullen parted ways with secondary coaches Ron English and Torrian Gray, a source told theThe Associated Press. The 10th-ranked Gators (8-4) allowed 30.8 points a game in 2020.