While there has been a lot of movement at safety this spring, one mainstay in the starting lineup was sophomore Jaden Harris. The Atlanta native continues to impress coaches with his IQ, speed and physicality. He joined the CanesInSight Podcast to discuss his progress:
On the spring: It was a great spring as a collective. We all gelled together. It was honestly a great spring for me, being my second year in the defense. I knew all the Guidry drills, all the defense. I knew it from the nickel position, from the free safety position, all the way to the boundary. It was a great experience to go out there and play with my teammates.
On the difference between playing the various positions in the defensive backfield: A big difference. Playing on the outside, you’ve gotta be a little more fluid, play some more man-to-man.
Once I moved into the box, I had to become more physical playing in that nickel position. When you move to the back [at safety], you need to be able to make smart plays, take great angles, get the ball down when it breaks and take great angles out of the post. You just need to be the general and see both sides of the field. At corner, you're not going to do that much at all. But at safety, it’s about being able to see everything and leading the defense, really.
On his athletic background: So this is about to shock a lot of people: I really never wanted to play football. I didn't grow up playing football at all. I played when I was six years old. My mom made me and all my brothers play. But after that year, you could decide what sport you want to play. I played basketball, I played baseball, and I played soccer for most of my life.
Growing up, my dad wasn't around as much. I always looked up to my dad still [his father was a soccer player in Colombia]. So I played a lot of soccer. That was my main sport. I thought I was gonna be a professional soccer player.
It helped me with my feet, a lot of the footwork. I started back playing football in ninth grade, but I was the punter. I was real good at kicking the ball, obviously. I started playing DB my junior year, but I played punter all four years. So soccer helped with that.
On sticking with Miami through the coaching change: I just remember going home after school and turning on those Ed Reed highlights and those Sean Taylor highlights. I'm a Georgia kid. I'm born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. But when the FSU/Miami game came on, it was like I was a Florida kid. I was so invested and interested.
I'll never forget the day the offer came. I was in math class, probably about sixth period. And from that day on, I’ve just been a Cane. I called my mom, like, “Mom, I'm going to Miami.” She's like, “You don't know nothing. You don't know anything about anything.” But I just had a feeling. I knew if I had an opportunity to play in that game, play for this team, I'm not changing that for nothing. So that's how it came about.
When I came on the visit, it was better than what I expected. Everything was better than what I expected. And ever since then, it's just been better. It's just where I want to be. I don't want to play nowhere else.
On his hobbies off the field: I'm a family man. I just love to be around my family. And my family here, my boys, Meesh Powell and Myles Mooyoung. We just hang out all the time. Sometimes we go fishing, go to the mall, whatever.
When we go fishing, I'm just sitting back and enjoying. I'm relaxing, man. Them boys too advanced for me.
On his feedback from the coaches: Some of the positive feedback has been that I’ve become more of a leader. more confidence in my game, having two years under the defense. Just being that leader, trying to be that vocal guide for the defense to be able to line people up and see certain match-ups. I think that's something that I improved on during the spring: seeing a match-up, seeing what kind of running back they got. “Do we want to match them up with that linebacker and switch it?” Just being that general.
On the tight ends: Elijah Arroyo, you’ve got to treat him like a receiver. He ain't no tight end. He's a big, fast, physical receiver, and he was great this spring. It was a great opportunity to go up against him, and I knew I had to bring my A-game every day. I would tell him certain things like, “Hey, man, you could do this better” or, “Why did you change this?” It was just a great experience because he’s a veteran.
Elija Lofton, another great tight end. You’ve gotta really be techniqued up with him. He knows how to use his size well, know how to use his strength, and runs his routes well. And then you got Riley Williams, another great tight end. He had a great spring. With him, he's just a real smooth route runner for his size. But he's also a heavier tight end, but you would never know it, just how smooth he went his route. I'm excited for the tight end room. They had a great spring.
On being a lower-ranked addition to the class: I feel like it resets when you get to college. Once we put on that practice uniform, we’re all trying to prove ourselves no matter where we came from. If you’re a five star versus me, being a three star, a kid from Atlanta, Georgia, we all have to prove ourselves. My focus really wasn't on my background. I knew I was here for a reason. By the grace of God, I made it here. I wasn't going to let nothing discourage me at all. That's kind of my mindset. I'm here for a reason. I’m gonna prove myself regardless. Five star, one star, I'm here.
On kicking and punting at UM: They don't be giving me no opportunities. I'm telling you, one day y'all gonna see it. Rugby-style punter, I'm really like that. If it wasn't for punting, I wouldn't be playing football.
On Canes Connection: Canes Connection is a great opportunity and resource that helps me give back to the kids and the community that I live in. I remember being one of those little kids. it's just a great opportunity to just give back. I'm blessed to be in this organization.
On his goals for the season: My number one goal right now is to win. Nothing else matters. The food doesn't taste the same when you don't win. That's all I see right now. I’m doing my best every single day, every single team event, when I'm on the field, when I'm not on the field, when I'm with the team, when I'm not. Making sure I'm doing the right things that can help this defense. That's all I really care about. To me, it ain't nothing else that's important if you don’t win.
