Former MLB player Monte Harrison, aged 28, is set to transition to college football by joining Arkansas.
After a nine-season career in professional baseball, including three seasons in MLB, Monte Harrison is embarking on a rare transition for a former baseball player: pursuing college football.
Confirmed by a spokesperson for Arkansas football to USA TODAY Sports, the 28-year-old intends to swap his baseball cleats for football ones as he aims to walk on to the Arkansas Razorbacks football team.
Despite the extended eligibility granted to college athletes due to COVID-19, Harrison will stand out as one of the oldest college football players upon joining the program. His venture into football isn’t entirely new; he was a highly regarded four-star recruit in the 2014 class, alongside notable names like Myles Garrett, Leonard Fournette, Deebo Samuel, and Deshaun Watson. While originally committed to play receiver for Bo Pelini at Nebraska, Harrison opted for a baseball career after being drafted in the second round of the MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, never utilizing his college eligibility.
Harrison’s baseball journey included four seasons in the Brewers’ minor leagues, during which he emerged as a top prospect in the organization. Following a trade to the Miami Marlins in 2018 as part of the Christian Yelich deal, he maintained his status as a top 100 prospect.
Making his major league debut in 2020, Harrison had brief stints in MLB in 2021 before being released in 2022. He subsequently signed with the Los Angeles Angels for the 2022 season, appearing in nine games before returning to the minors. After another minor league stint with Milwaukee in 2023, he was released at the end of the season.
Throughout his MLB career spanning three seasons, Harrison played in 50 games, batting .176 with two home runs, six RBIs, and seven stolen bases. His minor league tenure encompassed 770 games, featuring a .240 batting average, 90 home runs, 336 RBIs, and 210 stolen bases.
Expected to contribute as a receiver, Harrison will have four years of eligibility at Arkansas. While Nebraska and Tennessee were also considered potential destinations, according to 247 Sports, Harrison is set to join the Razorbacks as they open their season against Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Aug. 29, where he will be 29 years old.
