Penn State portal stock report: Cornerback AJ Harris
Penn State beefed up its cornerbacks room during the 2024 offseason. One addition it made came in the form of A.J. Harris. The Phenix City, Ala., native seemingly had a strong start to his college days at Georgia. He made eight tackles over his first seven games. Then, for reasons that still are not clear, his playing time diminished during the final month of the 2023 season. By mid-December, he was in the portal. By mid-January, he was enrolled at Penn State and ready to start his next chapter on and off the field.
“It was more so making the best decision for me to grow as a man and as a football player,” Harris told reporters in April. I believe, just off of the track record at Penn State, it has much more to offer than just football. To grow past football, grow in the academic lane. And then you got somebody like Coach Terry [Smith], who’s developed multiple DBs. It was a no-brainer.”
It was a no-brainer for both sides. Harris joined a room and defense that matched what he was looking for. On the Penn State side, the Lions landed another talented ballhawk for a room that returns plenty of talent but also loses three starters.
“AJ (is in a) different point of his career, but has come in and is super aggressive and super confident and playing really well right now. He’s a physical, physical corner,” Lions coach James Franklin said as spring practice wrapped up.
Is Penn State cornerback AJ Harris’ stock up or down after spring practice?
Harris was one of the most asked-about players this spring. And, every answer gushed about the second-year player’s talent and fit within the Penn State program. He’s versatile, as playing he can play inside and out for Smith and first-year defensive coordinator Tom Allen. Franklin routinely raved about how physical the 6-foot-1, 188-pound defender is. And, strength coach Chuck Losey praised his business-like approach upon first entering the Lasch Building weight room back in January.
All told, there is no other answer but to say Harris’ stock is on the rise. How much playing time that generates, however, remains to be seen. He could be a starter. He could also be the first cornerback off the bench. Smith has an embarrassment of riches to work with. Harris is joined by fellow new secondary addition Jalen Kimber. Second-year cornerback Audavion Collins improved his depth chart positioning dramatically this spring. Junior Cam Miller is the leader in the room and is penned into one starting spot. Sophomores Elliot Washington II and Zion Tracy will have a role, of course. And, freshman Antoine Belgrave-Shorter might, too.
With all of that talent vying for time, it goes without saying that the battle for positioning on the depth chart and rep count sheet will go into preseason camp. But Harris put himself in as good of a position as he possibly could to be toward the top of it with a very solid spring.
The post Penn State portal stock report: Cornerback AJ Harris appeared first on On3.
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