Can Tyriq Harris replace Alex Highsmith? 7 Charlotte 49ers who will turn heads in spring
The Charlotte 49ers turn the page toward the 2020 football season Tuesday when spring practice begins.
The 49ers return 13 starters (seven offense; six defense) from a team that went 7-6 in 2019, the first winning season in program history. Under first-year coach Will Healy, the 49ers played in the Bahamas Bowl (a 31-9 loss against Buffalo), the first postseason appearance in program history.
There’s plenty of talent left from that team, including quarterback Chris Reynolds, wide receiver Victor Tucker, defensive end Markees Watts and kicker Jonathan Cruz. There are also several holes to fill.
Here’s a look at seven players — some new, some familiar — who could make an impact for Charlotte this spring:
RB Tre Harbison: A grad transfer from Northern Illinois, Harbison gives the 49ers a chance to experience a relatively seamless transition from the loss of Benny LeMay, who finished his career as the second-leading rusher in 49ers history. Harbison, a Shelby Crest grad, rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons. He’ll compete with senior Aaron McAllister for the starting job.
QB Dom Shoffner: The 49ers are without a doubt Reynolds’ team and he’s the established starter. But Shoffner, a transfer from Monroe (N.Y.) College, will compete with sophomore Dylan Ratliff, for the backup spot. Like Reynolds, Shoffner, who began his career at N.C. Central, is a dual-threat: He threw for 2,488 yards and 27 touchdowns at Monroe last season and ran for 441 yards and 14 scores.
OL Ashton Gist: Charlotte loses three starters on the offensive line, and Gist, a transfer fro Northwest Mississippi Community College, will likely step in somewhere. He played mostly at center at Northwest Mississippi, but the 49ers have senior Jaelin Fisher back at that spot. There will be a lot for new offensive line coach Lee Grimes to figure out.
WR Rico Arnold: Arnold had a stellar freshman season in 2018, catching 22 passes for 302 yards (an average of 27.5 yards per catch) and a touchdown, but he missed last season with a foot injury. He returns to a receiving corps that, led by Tucker, is as deep and talented as any in Conference USA and also includes Tyler Ringwood and Cameron Dollar. The position has thinned out some with sophomores Noah Henderson (transferred to Furman) and Micaleous Elder (left the program) no longer around.
DE Tyriq Harris: How do you replace an All-American like Alex Highsmith? Start with Watts, who had 9.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss last season. But on the other end will be Harris, who missed last season with a back injury but was honorable mention All-Conference USA in 2018 when he 2.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Harris, who redshirted his freshman season, was granted a sixth-year medical waiver from the NCAA to play next season and has already graduated. He’ll likely be limited in most contact drills this spring, but his presence back in uniform will be a lift.
LB Derek Boykins: A transfer from South Carolina who played at Central Cabarrus High, Boykins will help fill the spot vacated by Jeff Gemmell, the program’s all-time leading tackler.
DB Lyndarious Strange: Healy thinks Strange, who started his career at Louisville and played last season at Iowa Western Community College, is the best of the six defensive backs in this recruiting class. Strange comes in as a safety, but the 49ers have Ja’Cione Fugate and Ben DeLuca (who missed 13 games last season with a shoulder injury) at that spot, so there’s room for him to shift around.
Charlotte 49ers spring practice
Charlotte’s spring football practice begins at 8 a.m. Tuesday. The 49ers will practice three times a week through March 21, when the Green-White spring game is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Richardson Stadium (spring practice wraps up March 23). Practices are open to the public and begin at 9 a.m. (except for Tuesdays and on March 10 and 12, when they start at 8 a.m.).
This story was originally published February 17, 2020 at 1:43 PM.