Advertisement

Ex-MLB OF Monte Harrison set to play college football at Arkansas

Harrison signed to play college football at Nebraska in 2014 before he was drafted by the Brewers

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 10: Monte Harrison #13 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a home run against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 10, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Monte Harrison appeared in nine games for the Angels in 2022 before spending the 2023 season with the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

Former Major League Baseball player Monte Harrison is trying his hand at college football.

A team spokesperson told Rivals’ Hawg Beat that the 28-year-old is set to be a preferred walk-on at Arkansas in 2024. Harrison played both football and baseball in high school in the Kansas City area and was a four-star recruit in football.

Harrison was the No. 5 player in the state of Missouri in 2014 and the No. 33 wide receiver in the class. He signed with Nebraska to play football out of high school but chose professional baseball after he was a second-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2014 MLB Draft.

Harrison was traded to the Marlins in 2018 as part of the team’s return for Christian Yelich. He made his Major League debut with the team in August 2020 and appeared in 32 games that season.

He appeared in nine games in 2021 and was released by the team in March 2022. Harrison signed with the Angels weeks later and played in nine games for them in 2022. He re-signed with the Brewers ahead of the 2023 season and played in 88 games for the team’s Triple-A affiliate. Harrison batted .208 and had an OPS of .593 with five homers in 269 at-bats.

Harrison is set to join a sizable list of those who played college football after their baseball careers were over. Heisman winner Chris Weinke played baseball before he joined Florida State and won a national title with the Seminoles. Weinke was then a fourth-round pick in the 2001 NFL Draft at the age of 28.

Brandon Weeden pitched in the New York Yankees’ farm system before he played college football at Oklahoma State. Weeden was then chosen in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, also as a 28-year-old.