Transfer Portal: Former Marshall WR/KR Jayden Harrison commits to Notre Dame
The Irish acquired a third wide receiver via the transfer portal this offseason, as well as an All-American kick returner. Former Marshall wide receiver Jayden Harrison has committed to Notre Dame, he announced on social media Tuesday afternoon.
Harrison, who began his college career at Vanderbilt in 2020, has 71 receptions for 779 yards and 4 touchdowns in his career across four seasons. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Throughout his career, Harrison has made his biggest impact in the return game. He compiled 705 yards on 23 kick-return attempts in 2023 and scored 2 touchdowns, earning first-team All-American honors from Walter Camp, CBS Sports and the FWAA. ESPN named him a second-team All-American return specialist, and he was also the Sun Belt Conference’s first-team kick returner.
Harrison was a finalist for the 2023 Jet Award, given to the top return specialist in the country.
Offensively, Harrison — who stands at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds — lined up primarily on the outside with the Thundering Herd in 2023. He does have ample experience in the slot, lining up there 235 times throughout his career.
Harrison averaged a career-high 14.6 yards per reception this past season, catching 28 passes on 46 targets for 401 yards. He caught 3 passes for 38 yards in Marshall’s win over Notre Dame in Week 2 of the 2022 season.
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When he initially committed to Vanderbilt all the way back on June 30, 2018, Harrison was a 3-star prospect. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, the high schooler from Nashville Pearl-Cohn was the No. 979 prospect and No. 133 wide receiver in the 2019 On3 Industry Ranking.
Harrison entered the transfer portal to leave Marshall on Jan. 4.
With the addition of Harrison, Notre Dame’s wide receiver room is projected to have 11 scholarship players in 2024. Those include transfer additions Kris Mitchell and Beaux Collins, returning underclassmen Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Fiason and KK Smith, returning upperclassmen Jayden Thomas and Deion Colzie and incoming freshmen Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert and Logan Saldate.
Mitchell and Collins are the big-ticket transfers, who look likely to start on the outside for the Irish. Thomas made his case in the Sun Bowl, while Greathouse and Faison project as co-starters in the slot in new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s system.
Harrison likely projects as a backup in a deep group of wide receivers, but he should instantly slot in alongside rising junior running back Jadarian Price as Notre Dame’s primary kick returner.
