Jacory Harris preparing for surgery…

It doesn’t excuse seventeen interceptions over the course of a season – ten in the final seven games – but it helps explain why the Jacory Harris you saw down the stretch wasn’t the same guy you saw in September.

The sophomore quarterback is preparing for post-season surgery to repair torn ligaments on his right thumb. This latest setback will most likely keep Harris out of spring ball, opening the door for A.J. Highsmith and incoming freshman Stephen Morris to get some much-needed reps. (Should Morris not graduate early from Pace High, Highsmith will be the only available quarterback.)

The lack of depth at quarterback came when Cannon Smith and Taylor Cook transferred during fall ball, leaving only Harris and Highsmith on the roster. Of course the overall lack of depth at the position started before Randy Shannon took over as Larry Coker and staff were unable to build an arsenal after Brock Berlin left town.

Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman were on board, but kids like Pat Devlin, Derek Shaw, Daniel Stegall and Nick Fanuzzi all left Miami at the altar, while last year’s starter Robert Marve bailed when he didn’t feel he received a fair shake.

According to the Miami Herald, top dog Harris was on crutches for a couple days after the bowl loss to Wisconsin. Strained ligaments in both his ankle and knee were the culprit.

Some folks turned on Harris as he led the Canes to a 4-3 record the final seven games. Success against Florida State and Georgia Tech out the gate had many forgetting the true sophomore only had two career starts leading up to the 2009 season.

The fast start was impressive, but should’ve been seen more as a fluke or stroke of good fortune, as opposed to ‘the norm’. Especially with opposing defensive coordinators finally getting film on Mark Whipple, figuring out the pass-happy coordinator’s schemes.

Truth be told, Harris exceeded expectations of a first-year starter. Especially for a program that started the season outside the top 25. It’s one thing when a team is reloading, sliding in a new quarterback behind a solid line and giving him and arsenal of players at the skills position. The only program to do that in recent memory is Southern Cal, where a Matt Leinart replaced a Carson Palmer… a John David Booty took over for Leinart… a Mark Sanchez supplanted Booty.

Conversely, the lack of offensive firepower is the sole reason Matt Barkley struggled at times in 2009 (2,735 yards, 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.) Barkely will be the next Trojan great, but as a first-year starter he lacked the weapons that helped Leinart, Booty and Sanchez hit the ground running.

Miami fans can obviously relate to Southern Cal’s recent success last decade having seen a similar feat in the Decade of Dominance era where the Canes fielded a Bernie Kosar, Vinny Testaverde, Steve Walsh, Craig Erickson and Gino Torretta over a ten year span. Four titles and two Heisman trophies later, it was then a run that included Frank Costa, Ryan Clement, Scott Covington and Kenny Kelly before Ken Dorsey became the guy.

Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen is coming off a solid junior campaign – 3,722 yards, 28 touchdowns and 4 interceptions – but his first year as a full-time starter was less than stellar. In 2008, Clausen threw for 3,172 yards but had a 25-to-17 touchdown to interception ratio.

Clausen played extensively as a freshman in 2007 – 10 of 12 games -but only had 138 attempts as a freshman, compared to 268 as a sophomore and 289 as a junior. Hate the Irish as Cane fans might, there’s no arguing that he was a much improved player from his sophomore to junior season.

Harris has a freshman season comparable to Clausen’s with 118 attempts and like Clausen, had an up and down sophomore season. With one full year under his belt, Harris now has eight full months heal up, bulk up, break down film and prepare for his next go around.

Quarterback growth from year one to year two – it’s a big part of the college game. Harris has played in and won big games and as part of his progression, will need to take things to the next level in 2010. It’ll start with hand surgery and once healed, Harris needs to get bigger and stronger. Offensive line woes aside, Harris’ durability will be questioned as long as he’s only carrying 190 pounds on a 6’4″ frame.

Dorsey “beefed up” a bit by his junior season in 2001 and hopefully Harris can follow suit when healthy.

Best wishes to J-12 this off-season. Great run year one. Take it to the next level this fall.

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