​ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 9: Jay Harris #22 of the Oregon Ducks runs the ball against Jamari Sharpe #22 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the CFP Semifinal Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 9, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images) | Getty Images Goal No. 9: ELIMINATE MISTAKES.Don’t beat yourself.#9 Jay HarrisRedshirt Senior* | 6-1 | 225 lbs. (+10) | St. Louis, MissouriPosition: Running BackPrevious Colleges: Northwest Missouri State University; University of OregonProjection: Co-Second-String/Special TeamsRemaining Eligibility: 1 yearStatus: On ScholarshipJay Harris (b. Nov. 22, 2003) is an experienced transfer running back from Oregon who is majoring in sociology. He is expected to make an immediate impact in 2026 at both the running back and kickoff returner.“Jay Harris has been back there (at kick returner). … Again, we’re getting a lot of guys touches, and I think we got some explosive returners,” new head coach Collin Klein said recently during his first fall press conference.At Big 12 Media Days, Klein told reporters that “Joe Jackson might be known by some, but Jay Harris around him is going to some really, really nice things (at running back).”Back in April, Klein said, “Jay Harris has been outstanding. We have to try to slow him down in every walkthrough because that guy just goes hard every single snap. He’s been tremendous and adds a great skillset.”Harris’ new position coach, running backs coach Cory Patterson, had even more glowing things to say in June:Jay runs like a 5-foot-10 dude, but he’s 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, and he is a freak show with his build and body, and you rarely see a guy that big be that explosive. He’s very explosive when he catches the ball like a receiver. I’m going to continue to press him. Jay definitely has an opportunity to be something that this league hasn’t seen a ton of — a big, physical back who can run. There haven’t been a ton of those guys in this league.New offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson attributes Harris and Jackson pushing each other to their excellence:The two guys there, Joe and Jay, are the senior members of that group. Even going back to stations, but during the winter workout time where we don’t have footballs out there and we’re doing calisthenics and jumping over things and lifting things and running hard, you’d think there’d be maybe some sort of adversarial nature for Joe and Jay, as proven as those two are and with as many college reps banked as those two have, but they’ve really pushed each other.(Coach) Patterson, credit to him for creating that environment where guys are bringing out the best in each other. I’m happy with those guys, but there’s other people in that room, too, who are coming along well also.(Harris is) very gifted physically. When he walks in the room, he is kind of central casting for a running back. He’s clearly been in the weight room before, and he has an intensity abo