Most 30-year-olds play college football on Xbox—Monte Harrison plays it for real

by: Drew Franklin07/25/25DrewFranklinKSR

monte-harrison-arkansas — Aug 29, 2024; Little Rock, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Monte Harrison (82) runs a route in the fourth quarter against the Pine Bluff Golden Lions at War Memorial Stadium. Arkansas won 70-0. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

With the recent release of EA Sports College Football 26, 30-somethings across America are chasing Heisman and national championship trophies, playing the popular video game franchise that, thanks to NIL legislation, returned to consoles for the first time in a decade last summer.

However, one soon-to-be 30-year-old is living out the college football dream in real life, playing the human version of the 2025 college football season, not the virtual one.

Monte Harrison is an SEC wide receiver for the Arkansas Razorbacks, approaching his fourth decade on Earth. Only a sophomore in college, Harrison committed to Nebraska over Arkansas and several other schools as a four-star prospect in the Class of 2014, but elected to pursue a career in professional baseball instead.

Aug 29, 2024; Little Rock, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Monte Harrison (82) runs a route in the fourth quarter against the Pine Bluff Golden Lions at War Memorial Stadium. Arkansas won 70-0. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Harrison in the second round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft at pick No. 50 overall. He played pro ball for 10 seasons, including 50 games in the majors over three years with the Miami Marlins (2020-21) and Los Angeles Angels (2022), before retiring from baseball in 2023.

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May 2, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Miami Marlins center fielder Monte Harrison (3) on the field before the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

A year later, Harrison enrolled in college to finish what he started in football, suiting up for Arkansas in the 2024 season. He played in 11 games with two catches for 29 yards, both in his college football debut, which made him only the second player in NCAA history to record a statistic in an official FBS football game following an MLB career.

Though older than his teammates and opponents, Harrison is far from the record for the oldest college football player. Alan Moore and Tom Thompson will likely share that honor forever, each with an NCAA field goal attempt at 61 years old. Moore kicked for Faulkner University in 2011; before him, Tom Thompson set the record with Austin College.

And here I am, rubbing my knees after checking the mailbox.

[Oldest.com: 7 Oldest College Football Players]