Tre Harris: Why the Ole Miss Receiver is the NFL Draft Steal Nobody is Talking About

Tre Harris: Why the Ole Miss Receiver is the NFL Draft Steal Nobody is Talking About

Ole Miss fans know him as the guy who makes the impossible look like a routine Tuesday. Whether it's a contested jump ball against a future NFL cornerback or a simple slant that he turns into a 60-yard sprint, Tre Harris has redefined what "elite" means in Oxford. Honestly, if you aren't paying attention to what this man did during the 2024 season, you're just missing out on the best show in the SEC.

He didn't just play; he dominated.

Before a nagging lower-body injury slowed him down late in the year, Harris was putting up numbers that felt like they belonged in a video game. We are talking about 1,030 receiving yards in basically seven and a half games. You've got to realize how absurd that is. He averaged 128.8 yards per game. That isn't just "good." It’s historic. In fact, he’s one of only two players in the history of the SEC to average over 100 yards per game for an entire career, joining Florida legend Jabar Gaffney.

The Tre Harris Ole Miss Impact: By the Numbers

When Lane Kiffin brought Harris in from Louisiana Tech, everyone knew he was a playmaker. But I don't think anyone—not even the most optimistic Rebel fan—saw a 225-yard performance against Georgia Southern coming. Or the 11-catch, 176-yard day against Kentucky.

He basically became Jaxson Dart’s security blanket.

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  • Total Receptions: 60 (in 2024 alone)
  • Receiving Yards: 1,030
  • Touchdowns: 7
  • Yards Per Catch: 17.2

What’s wild is that he did most of this while being the focal point of every defensive coordinator's nightmare. They knew the ball was going to #9, and they still couldn't stop it. His PFF receiving grade sat at a staggering 89.4, which ranked him in the top five nationally. If you're looking for efficiency, Harris led the entire country in yards per route run at 5.12. Every time he stepped on the grass, he was gaining chunks of yardage.

What Most People Get Wrong About His Game

People look at his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame and assume he’s just a "big-bodied" receiver who wins with strength. That's a lazy take. While he definitely has the size to bully defenders, his real magic is in the nuance.

His releases at the line of scrimmage are surgical.

He has this specific way of using his hands to clear a defender's jam that makes him look like an offensive tackle, yet he retains the fluid hips of a much smaller slot receiver. It's a rare combination. Scouts have noted that while he might not have "track speed," his game speed is plenty. He led the SEC in 30-yard receptions. You don't do that by being slow.

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Why the NFL Draft Stock is a Rollercoaster

As we look toward the 2025 NFL Draft, there’s a lot of chatter. Some mocks have him as a mid-second-round pick, while others think the injury history might push him into the third. It's a bit of a gamble, sure. But the ceiling is through the roof.

The injury he re-aggravated against Florida was a "freak situation," according to Kiffin. He got hit right on the same spot as his previous groin injury. It was heartbreaking to watch him drop a pass and realize he was done for the day—and potentially the season—but that shouldn't cloud the evaluation. When he’s healthy, he is a WR1 at the next level.

Think about the traits.

  1. Ball tracking that borders on the supernatural.
  2. The ability to play all three receiver positions (X, Y, and Z).
  3. Elite production in the toughest conference in college football.

Teams like the Chargers, Steelers, or even the Saints (who desperately need a playmaker with his size) have been linked to him in early mocks. He’s the type of player who can walk into a camp and immediately challenge for a starting role because his game is already so "pro-ready."

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The Road From Louisiana Tech to Oxford

Let's not forget where he started. Harris wasn't a five-star recruit out of high school. He had to earn it at Louisiana Tech, where he caught 65 balls for nearly 1,000 yards in 2022 before hitting the portal. Moving to Ole Miss was the litmus test. Could he do it against the big boys?

The answer was a resounding yes.

He didn't just survive the jump to the SEC; he became the standard. He finished his college career with 3,532 total receiving yards and 29 touchdowns. Those are "first-round" numbers if the medicals check out.

Actionable Insights for the 2025 Season

If you are a fan or a fantasy football enthusiast watching the 2025 rookie class, here is what you need to track with Tre Harris:

  • Medical Reports: Keep a close eye on his 40-yard dash and agility drills at the NFL Combine. If he shows that the lower-body injuries haven't sapped his explosiveness, his stock will skyrocket back into the early second round.
  • System Fit: He thrives in an offense that allows him to use his size in the red zone but also gives him opportunities to win on vertical routes. A creative play-caller will move him around to create mismatches.
  • The "Dart" Connection: Much of his success came from his chemistry with Jaxson Dart. At the next level, his ability to build that same rapport with a pro QB will be the difference between a 400-yard rookie season and an 800-yard one.

Tre Harris isn't just another receiver in a deep class. He’s a proven, high-volume target who has already played—and won—against the best talent in the country. The "Ole Miss receiver" factory has produced some gems lately (think DK Metcalf, AJ Brown), and Harris is next in line. Don't be surprised when he's a household name by next October.