Former Syracuse WR Taj Harris picks up offers from two SEC schools
Former Syracuse wide receiver Taj Harris, who entered the transfer portal Sunday, has already been offered by four different schools.
His offers include SEC foes Kentucky and Mississippi State and perennial Pac-12 contender Utah. Western Kentucky has also offered Harris.
Taj Harris was coming off a great 2020 season where he was fifth in the ACC in receptions and earned a spot on the All-ACC third team.
He played in three games this year, making 16 catches for 171 yards with no touchdowns. He missed one game with an injury and sat out Saturday’s loss to Florida State before entering the portal.
His reason for missing the game is unknown, and it is also unknown whether the decision was made by Syracuse head coach Dino Babers or Harris.
Because he played in only three games, Taj Harris is able to redshirt this season and keep two years of eligibility going forward.
Harris was a consensus three-star prospect out of Palmyra (N.J.) High.
Why did Taj Harris leave Syrcause?
Taj Harris was on track to be a four-year starter and be record holder for Syracuse before entering the portal.
Babers addressed the situation during his weekly press conference Monday.
“The big thing is I want to just open up with Taj Harris,” Babers said. “Taj and I had a conversation before the game. I told him that I would talk to him after the game. We spoke in great detail after the game and then he decided that the best opportunity for him is to go to the transfer portal. We wish him the best of luck.”
Harris is the fifth-player to leave Syracuse since the beginning of training camp with Jarveon Howard, Ben Labrosse, Landon Morris and Cody Shear.
Babers said he will keep the specifics of his conversation with Harris private and it is up Harris if he wants to explain his reasoning.
Harris has not yet commented on the matter beyond announcing his decision in a Sunday tweet.
“I’m not talking to any of my players about trying to keep them here (during the season,” Babers said. “When I talk to them it’s a private conversation about how I can make them better. It’s no different than I’m talking to a family member. The decision about whether they leave here is not my decision to make. They’re in control of their own careers and whether they want to get a degree from Syracuse University or not. I don’t get a vote in that.”