Brian Kelly explains LSU’s vetting process before it signed Denver Harris: ‘He had to fit’

Before cornerback Denver Harris signed with LSU, he went through a vetting process. Harris showed obvious talent in five games as a freshman at Texas A&M, but disciplinary issues had lingered throughout the year.

First, missing curfew kept Harris out of the season opener. Later, a reported locker room incident caused the Aggies to indefinitely suspend him and two other freshmen for the final six games.

Brian Kelly values character as much as anything else when the staff scouts transfers, and LSU tried to assess Harris’ makeup after he entered the transfer portal.

The Tigers knew Harris, a five-star recruit in the 2022 class, could play. They wanted to know whether he could meet the program’s standards.

“He had to fit,” Kelly said.

Harris went through interviews with Kelly and defensive coordinator Matt House, and Kelly said “a lot of people” spoke on his behalf. Ultimately, Kelly decided Harris was “worth the risk.” He believed LSU’s culture could give him more structure.

“It’s proven to be that he’s done well early on, and he has no choice,” Kelly said. “He has to make it.”

Now three practices into the spring, Harris has rotated at cornerback in the most wide-open competition on the roster. The Tigers have to replace both outside corners.

Competing with Harris, LSU currently has Ohio State transfer JK Johnson, Southeastern transfer Zy Alexander, sophomore Laterrance Welch, freshman Javien Toviano and freshman Jeremiah Hughes. Syracuse transfer Duce Chestnut will join the fray when healthy.

“Here’s a guy that has been given a second chance and we feel like because of the circumstances, the culture is strong (and) he knows this is really his last chance at an SEC opportunity, that it was worth the risk,” Kelly said of Harris. “So far, so good.”