Drake Harris is not a household name when it comes to the Michigan Wolverines.
Harris was once a prized recruit under Brady Hoke, committing to Michigan prior to his senior season in high school when he was rated (by at least one service) as a five-star wide receiver prospect. Since then, though, Harris' football career has been marred by injuries and anonymity. The redshirt sophomore wide receiver missed the entire 2014 campaign and a large portion of his redshirt freshman campaign with injuries, but he looks to be healthy now as a secondary weapon for Jim Harbaugh and company.
Isaiah Hole of 247Sports caught up with Harris before training camp began in Ann Arbor, and the player confirmed his health status:
"I'm good, I'm feeling 100%, ready for camp. Coming in this year, knowing the playbook — it's not a year where we have to learn a whole new playbook — I know everything. I'm expecting good things to come from this camp. I'm ready to go!"
In addition, it looks as if Harris has been working out diligently while on the shelf due to injury:
"I weigh 188 lbs. right now. Last year I played at 177 lbs. So I put on a lot of [positive weight] in the offseason."
Fortunately for the offense as a whole, the Wolverines will not be heavily reliant on his production in 2016. Michigan returns two of the top wide receivers in the Big Ten with Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh and, for good measure, All-American tight end Jake Butt is back for his final campaign. Still, there is room for an additional target on the outside, and Harris looks to be in competition with Grant Perry and Moe Ways when it comes to returning wide receivers.
Drake Harris will probably fall short of the lofty expectations that accompany a five-star prospect ranking, but with three full seasons of eligibility remaining, there is still time for a positive impact on the field.
