MIAMI SAVES

KU earns commitment of former Miami, Georgia safety Harris

KU earns commitment of former Miami, Georgia safety Harris

January 5, 2026 Admin

AP Photo/Colin Hubbard

Georgia Red Team defensive back Jaden Harris (12) celebrates after a pass breakup during the NCAA college football team’s spring game, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Athens, Ga.

Kansas has added a player with experience in some of the nation’s top programs.

Safety Jaden Harris, who spent his first three seasons at Miami and then played at Georgia in 2025, announced on Instagram on Monday evening that he will join the Jayhawks next year.

Harris called KU his “Final Destination” in the Instagram post, and indeed, 2026 will be his last year of eligibility after he was a three-star recruit out of Atlanta’s Riverwood High School in the class of 2022.

The 6-foot, 200-pound defensive back redshirted his first year with the Hurricanes, appearing in two games. As a redshirt freshman, he was a key special-teams contributor for Miami and finished the year with seven tackles.

Then, in 2024, Harris had his most productive season. He started all 13 games, playing 710 total snaps with 661 on defense according to Pro Football Focus, as the Hurricanes opened 9-0 but finished 10-3 with a loss in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Lining up in a variety of spots but primarily as a free safety, Harris recorded 40 tackles, including 3.5 for loss with 1.5 sacks, as well as three passes defensed with an interception. His final PFF grade, though, was 57.1, and he was charged with 15 missed tackles on the year.

Harris left Miami for Georgia in the offseason, committing in January 2025. However, he played a minimal role with the Bulldogs as a reserve at slot corner and free safety and appeared on special teams. He made six total tackles in eight games.

Now he will leave the Southeast for the first time to join the Jayhawks as they attempt to rebuild their safety group and strengthen an inconsistent pass defense.

KU returns two major contributors in Taylor Davis and Mason Ellis — the latter played primarily, at least early in the year, in KU’s nickel role as a fifth defensive back — as well as a pair of young players in Darrion Jones and Brandon Schmelzle. But the Jayhawks lost a starter from 2025 in Lyrik Rawls and a couple of additional depth pieces, so Harris will have the opportunity to contribute in a significant fashion immediately.

Harris is KU’s third transfer from the SEC this offseason after linebackers Landyn Watson (Kentucky) and Jaron Willis (South Carolina).