Former North Texas Running Back Damashja Harris Inks With Pokes

LARAMIE -- Damashja Harris didn't play against Wyoming last September in muggy Denton.

Turns out, North Texas didn't need the 6-foot-2, 224-pound running back in that 44-17 dismantling of the visiting Cowboys.

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A meniscus tear sidelined him in that outing, and the remaining 10 that followed. He is now fully cleared and has a new address -- Laramie.

Harris announced Wednesday he has signed with Wyoming as a graduate transfer after visiting the school this week. He spent three seasons at Lamar University before heading to UNT for the 2024 campaign.

He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Harris is the second addition to the Cowboys' backfield this week, joining Max White, who comes to the high plains after spending four years at the University of Iowa.

Wyoming also added 5-foot-8, 208-pound Charlotte transfer Terron Kellman during the offseason.

Senior Sam Scott, who led the team in rushing last fall with 435 yards on 92 carries, will return to the field this offseason after missing spring practice with a lingering bone bruise in his knee.

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Dontae Burch and Nico Hamilton are back for their second year. Three freshmen -- Samuel "Tote" Harris (Cibolo, Texas), Patrick Broadway II (Houston, Texas) and Jaden Lawrence (Parker, Colo.) -- will arrive on campus later this month.

Jay Sawvel said he wants to be "eight deep" at the running back position. It's not clear whether or not former safeties Nikos Varelas and Jevon Davis will remain at the spot after filling in during spring camp.

During his three-game stint with the Mean Green, Harris rolled up 193 yards on the ground on just 22 attempts. That's an average of 8.8 yards per carry.

Most of that damage came in a Week 2 matchup with Stephen F. Austin when the Killeen, Texas product gashed the Lumberjacks for 142 yards on just 10 attempts. One of those handoffs turned into an 80-yard touchdown jaunt in that 35-20 victory.

In 2023, his final season at Lamar, Harris was named the Specialist of the Year on Dave Campbell's All-Texas Team. The All-Southland performer returned 19 kickoffs for 509 yards and a touchdown. That's an average of nearly 27 yards an attempt. He also rushed for 299 yards and three touchdowns on 65 carries.

Wyoming suffered plenty of turnover in the running back room this offseason, losing presumed starter Harrison Waylee to the NCAA Transfer Portal in late March. The senior is now at Virginia.

Dawaiian McNeely and Jamari Ferrell are also on the open market.

Longtime position coach Gordie Haug is also gone, now serving as the assistant head coach and leader of the North Dakota tight ends. He was replaced by Donnell Kirkwood Jr., who bolted for the same position at Washington State on the opening day of spring practice.

Gary Harrell was hired last month after spending the previous five seasons on Deion Sanders' staff at both Jackson State and Colorado.

Harris is the seventh known commit since the spring game, joining wideout Michael Fitzgerald (Central Missouri), defensive back/ linebacker Enock Sibomana (North Dakota State), punter Bart Edmiston Jr. (Jones Community College), White and edge rushers Peter Eyabi (Riverside City College) and Chisom Ifeanyi (Florida Atlantic).

Summer workouts in Laramie are scheduled to begin May 26.

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players