Colorado University Athletics
TE Harrison Becomes Additional Weapon For Buffs Offense
September 22, 2023 | Football
BOULDER — As the 19th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes head into week four of the season, walk-on tight end Michael Harrison has emerged as a significant contributor for Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' squad.
With two-way star Travis Hunter out with an injury, Harrison will give CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders another option Saturday when the Buffaloes travel to Oregon to take on the No. 10 Ducks (1:30 p.m., ABC).
Last weekend, Harrison stepped up big with seven catches for 76 yards — two for touchdowns — as well as the critical two-point conversion late in the game that tied the score at 28-28 and sent the game into overtime.
Harrison played wide receiver for the 1-11 Buffs last year, but his playing time was limited mostly to special teams play.
He continued to play wide receiver in the spring under Coach Prime and the new staff. But after spring ball was completed, CU coaches asked Harrison if he would be interested in playing tight end for position coach Tim Brewster.
He agreed to the switch, and despite being slightly undersized for the position — 6-foot-3, 215 pounds — he has made a home for himself on the starting roster.
Earlier this week, Sanders talked about Harrison's transition from wide receiver to a tight end,
"Mikey's versatile," Coach Prime said. "Mike is kind of a small tight end and a very large receiver, which don't fare well at times. But he overcomes that by his work ethic, by what he applies to the game, his knowledge of the game, being where he's supposed to be, doing what he's supposed to do and going full speed at all time."
Harrison's dedication to the position change has not only earned him a starting spot, but it's propelled him into a key role on the Buffaloes offense, where he has built a good chemistry with quarterback Sanders.
That chemistry was something else that Coach Prime also touched on Tuesday.
"Practice is where you build trust with your quarterback," he said. "So just being here and being able to be on the field and work with Shedeur has created a level of trust that he has found to be dependable in certain situations. And that's what he was."
