From Baseball to Football: The Unconventional Path of 29-Year-Old Monte Harrison

29-year-old Monte Harrison, a former professional baseball player who spent nine seasons in the game, including three in MLB, is making a rare move by transitioning to college football. He will be leaving his baseball career behind to walk-on to the Arkansas Razorbacks football team. Despite NCAA rules allowing athletes six years of eligibility due to COVID-19, Harrison will still be one of the oldest players on the college football field when he joins the program.

Harrison was a highly recruited four-star prospect in the 2014 class alongside notable names like Myles Garrett and Leonard Fournette. Although he initially committed to play as a receiver for Nebraska under coach Bo Pelini, his career took a different turn when he was drafted in the second round by the Milwaukee Brewers that same year. This opportunity led him to pursue a professional baseball career without ever using his college eligibility.

Throughout his time in the majors and minors, Harrison showed promise as a top prospect in both the Brewers and Marlins organizations. He made his MLB debut in 2020 and continued to play in the league in 2021 before eventually being released in 2022. After brief stints with the Los Angeles Angels and a return to Milwaukee’s minor league team, Harrison was released again in 2023. Across his career, he accumulated stats in both the majors and minors, showcasing his capabilities as a multi-dimensional player.

Harrison’s return to football at Arkansas marks a new chapter in his athletic journey. While other schools like Nebraska and Tennessee were considered as potential destinations, Harrison’s decision to join the Razorbacks aligns with his desire to pursue a new challenge on the gridiron. With the college football season fast approaching, Harrison will begin this next phase of his career as a 29-year-old receiver for Arkansas. Their season opener against Arkansas Pine-Bluff on August 29th will serve as