Montel Harris, All-Time Leading Boston College Rusher, Transfers To Temple

Montel Harris Transfers To Temple, According To Report

Boston College recently dismissed their all-time leading rusher, running back Montel Harris, for repeated violation of team rules. There were reports that Harris was going to transfer to Temple and play for the Owls as early as the 2012 season, and those rumors are now official, according to a report from Keith Pompey.

Former Boston College RB Montel Harris is a Temple Owl. He will play this season. #TUFF #BigEast

— Keith Pompey (@pompeysgridlock) July 8, 2012

Harris is eligible to play in 2012 immediately after transferring because he graduated in May. As long as Harris takes graduate courses at Temple that are not offered at Boston College, he will be eligible immediately, given the NCAA's rules for transferring with players who have already graduated.

Temple was the favorite to land Harris because of connections with the coaching staff, as Harris' former offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers is now the assistant head coach with the Owls.

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Montel Harris Wants To Transfer Closer To Home After Boston College Exit

Boston College Eagles coach Frank Spaziani dismissed all-time leading school rusher Montel Harris from the program on Tuesday. This has obviously further damaged BC's morale, which was already distressingly low. But, moving forward, it's time to ponder where Harris might end up.

The Temple Owls are in play due to their coaching staff connections, while Harris himself sounds like he'd like to think about moving further south than Philadelphia:

If Harris completes his academic requirements and graduates, he can play anywhere he wants in 2012 without sitting out a year if he takes graduate courses not offered by BC.

"I think I want to stay closer to home,'' said Harris, who grew up in Jacksonville, Fla. "That would be my first choice. I know I'm going to spend the next few weeks just looking at all my options.''

Despite coming off a major knee injury that's flared up multiple times, Harris is still a veteran back who's posted more than 4,000 yards from scrimmage in his college career.

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Montel Harris Could Land At Temple, According To Report

Former Boston College Eagles running back Montel Harris still has a senior season left to play somewhere, despite being kicked off the team for violating team rules. BC's all-time leading rusher could be a target for the Temple Owls, according to Bruce Feldman:

Hearing Montel Harris,who BC booted after the star RB had a rift w coach Frank Spaziani, may end up at Temple w exEagle assts.

— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) May 1, 2012

Those assistants include Kevin Rogers, BC's offensive coordinator last year, who's now Temple's assistant head coach.

Temple, of course, has use for a new feature back, with Bernard Pierce having departed for the NFL. It appears Harris would be able to do the Russell Wilson thing, which allows players who've graduated from one school to play for another without sitting out a season, provided they meet certain stipulations.

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Montel Harris Dismissed: Boston College Doomed, But Not Because Of RB Depth

Losing all-time leading school rusher Montel Harris hurts the Boston College Eagles on the morale front, but as far as on-field production goes, it's not a killer. Harris' strength for most of his career was reliability, not game-breaking speed. And without him, BC's running game was a relative strength last year -- by which I mean it ranked No. 8 in the ACC, not No. 11 like the Eagles' aerial attack.

With Harris missing 10 games in 2011, backups Rolandan Finch and Andre Williams combined for 1,222 yards on the ground. Finch's average per carry surpassed Harris', in fact. Freshman Tahj Kimble was able to get his feet wet as well. All three return, and with Harris missing spring ball, the whole of the running depth chart got still more experience than it would've otherwise. There are only four scholarship running backs left, but none are seniors, so every little bit helps, I guess.

The true damage in losing Harris is largely symbolic, and we can't downplay how much it means. His place in the record books was just about the only thing left for BC supporters to hang onto after a 4-8 season, especially with team leader Luke Kuechly gone to the NFL. With Kuechly around, the defense was actually not bad last year, but now it ... well, it ... well, how much do you like Chase Rettig?

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Star RB Montel Harris Dismissed From Boston College Football

All-time leading Boston College rusher Montel Harris is no longer a member of the Eagles.