Miami Hurricanes Football: 5 Ways Jacory Harris Can Improve at Quarterback

Jacory Harris came to Miami as a highly touted quarterback from Northwestern High School in Miami.

He started his junior and senior year and never lost a game, going 30-0 while leading the Bulls to two consecutive state titles.

In his senior year, he broke the states touchdown passing record, won the National High School Football Championship and was named Florida's Mr. Football.

He immediately shared time with Robert Marve in 2008 and when Marve transferred to Purdue in 2009, it left Harris as the stater.

Harris had a tremendous sophomore season but was hampered by interceptions, throwing 17 of them.

Harris was to work on it and come into his junior year last year with more poise and confidence, but again, he threw for another 15 interceptions.

Jacory is currently in a battle with sophomore Stephen Morris for the starting position and here is a list on what Jacory needs to do to improve at quarterback.

Harris was an absolute stud in high school, throwing for 84 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his junior and senior year.

Problem is, that was high school ball, and while everyone has jumped their game up, Harris has not.

He still tends to play at high school speed.

What I mean by that is Harris doesn't understand the speed of college.  Instead of having one or two Division I talented players on his team, he has great talent all around.

His teammates didn't get to the University of Miami by accident, these are great athletes, and Harris needs to realize that and play to their strengths.

Anyone who watched Harris knows he has a pretty decent arm.

Granted, it isn't the strongest arm in the country, but it sometimes is very accurate.

One of the biggest concerns with Harris is he lobs the ball way to much.  He doesn't understand that the defensive backs and even linebackers in college are so much quicker then he thinks.

Harris floats way too many balls to his receivers in which it gives the defenders a lot of time to catch up and make a play.

Harris needs to throw more line drive passes to his receivers and give them the opportunity to make the plays

I know this was an obvious one, but Harris tends to try to be like Brett Favre and throw into coverage way to many times.

The big difference between Favre and Harris is arm strength; Favre can sometimes get away with it, Harris can not.

Harris needs to to understand that deep ball is not needed, especially if you have little trust in your receivers.

Harris needs to scan the field and stop throwing into double coverage and throw a quick dump pass to someone below if needed.

Interceptions are the No. 1 reason the Hurricanes lost the football game last year to No. 2 Ohio State last year.

He forced way too many balls.

Since day one, Harris was very impatient. 

I know he had a great sophomore season (minus the interceptions), but he still would have had even a better one, if he would just take his time.

He is a very smart quarterback, that is definitely not an issue; it's the fact that he doesn't give his receivers the time to get into their positions.

Even with a little pressure, Harris gets too quick and ends up making poor decisions that usually turns into an interception.

He has to have faith in his blockers, take his time, read the defense and make better decisions.

I will give him the benefit of the doubt as his receivers (except Leonard Hankerson) have been less-than-stellar his last two years.

After his great sophomore year, Harris was tabbed as possibly the best quarterback since Ken Dorsey. 

The only thing people had issues with were his interceptions, and unfortunately, it got into his head.

Harris came into last season with high hopes and ended with the same old tired song, turnovers. Instead of improving on his sophomore season, Harris actually got worse.

It came at the worst time to, against the No. 2 team in the country—Ohio State.

Harris through for an inexcusable four interceptions, and the Hurricanes lost by 12 points.

After that game, you can tell Harris hasn't improved anything.  While other players were getting better, Harris was stuck in a rut.

Each game after that, Harris was so timid in passing the ball, his football intelligence lost and unfortunately never was found again.

Harris needs to completely disregard the media, and everyone else across the country. He needs to be confident in his arm.

This is Harris's last time to show everyone that he truly is a great quarterback, but he needs to believe in himself, before its too late.