Miami football could target Alabama transfer portal OLB Kevin Harris
Alabama defensive end Kevin Harris could be a perfect target for the Miami football program in the 2021 transfer portal.
Likely to lose defensive ends Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche to the 2021 NFL Draft, the Miami football program is likely to search for an edge rusher through the transfer portal for the third offseason in a row. Former Alabama outside linebacker Kevin Harris could be a target for the Hurricanes coaching staff.
Harris is an edge rusher who should be able to make the switch to defensive end for Miami in the Hurricanes 4-3 defense. Phillips was more of a hybrid between DE and OLB at UCLA. After transferring and sitting out the 2019 season, Phillips added 40 pounds to his 6’5 frame before playing this season.
Harris is not a graduate transfer like Roche was this season and DE Trevon Hill was for Miami in 2019. The possibility would be that Harris has to sit out the 2021 season before gaining eligibility in 2022. Harris redshirted with Alabama as a freshman in 2019 and should currently have four seasons of eligibility remaining.
All 2020 fall sports athletes were granted an extra season of eligibility. Harris played one game for Alabama in 2019. The 2019 four-star signee recorded two tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery against Auburn last season in the only game Harris got on the stat sheet. Harris considered Miami out of high school.
Sounds like Georgia Tech is an early school to keep an eye on as a possible transfer destination for Kevin Harris, the Alabama outside linebacker who went into the transfer portal earlier today
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) November 13, 2020
Harris played high school football at Grayson outside of Atlanta. Grayson is the same H.S. as USC commit, quarterback Jake Garcia who the Miami football program hopes to flip in the 2021 class. Matt Zenitz of AL.Com reported on Twitter last week that Harris could decide to return home to Atlanta to play for Georgia Tech.
Harris was listed as the fifth-best weakside defensive end in the 2019 signing class. Miami would likely seek to play him at DE. The projected losses of Phillips and Roche will open both starting DE spots for Miami in 2021. Miami has depth for the future at DE but not a lot of experience.
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Redshirt freshman Jahfari Harvey has received the most playing time among the Miami DEs likely to return in 2021. Harvey has eight tackles and two tackles for loss in 2020. True freshman Chantz Willams who could become the next great Miami pass rusher has three tackles this season.