Taj Harris has over 2,000 career receiving yards.
Reviving the passing game is something Kentucky coach Mark Stoops wanted to do this year — and at times it has been better while at other times it has been stagnant. Knowing this year’s top two receivers — Wan’Dale Robinson (NFL) and Josh Ali (graduation) — likely will not be back next year, the Wildcats scored a big win in the transfer portal Saturday when former Syracuse receiver Taj Harris committed to Kentucky.
He will finish the semester at Syracuse, enroll in January, and could have two years of eligibility remaining,
Harris was a four-year playmaker at Syracuse and ranked in the top 10 in school history in catches (151) and receiving yards (2,028) when he put his name into the transfer portal after three games this year. He led Syracuse with 16 catches for 171 yards in the first three games.
Other schools that pursued Harris reportedly were Auburn, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Western Kentucky, Utah, Temple, NC State, and Louisville.
The 6-2, 175-pound Harris was at UK for his official visit this weekend after visiting Mississippi a week earlier.
This is an important addition for Kentucky just over a week after four-star receiver Dane Key of Frederick Douglass High School also committed to UK. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen has tried to involve more receivers this year but quarterback Will Levis has targeted Robinson on over 40 percent of his throws and he has more catches than UK’s next five receivers combined.
Sophomore DeMarcus Harris has played better recently and the Cats still like freshmen Dekel Crowdus, Chauncey Magwood, and Christian Lewis and what they could add in future seasons.
Kentucky also has commitments from three-star receivers Jordan Anthony and Brandon White, both speedsters, and many think UK is the leader for Nashville four-star receiver Barion Brown.
