"That means that Matt can continue to do kickoffs and punt returns."
In Harris, the Owls have added Boston College's career rushing leader.
The 5-foot-10, 207-pounder, however, is coming off a recurring knee injury that allowed him to play in only two games last season. He also missed the Eagles' spring practices.
Harris transferred to Temple this past weekend after being released from the Boston College program for a repeated violation of a team rule in May. He arrived on campus Sunday and is expected to enroll in classes as early as Monday.
He will be reunited with former Boston College wideouts coach Ryan Day and former Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers. Day is Temple's new offensive coordinator and wideouts coach. Rogers is the Owls' new associate head coach and quarterbacks coach.
Harris is a recent Boston College graduate with one season of eligibility remaining after receiving a medical redshirt. The Florida native was able to transfer without sitting out a year because he will take graduate courses not offered at Boston College.
In addition to being the school's all-time leading rusher (3,735 yards), Harris is the Eagles' leader in 100-yard games (22) and carries (786), and ranks third in touchdowns (27).
Brown was the durable change-of-pace backup the last three seasons to Bernard Pierce, who was drafted in the third round in April by the Baltimore Ravens. Brown rushed for 916 yards and six touchdowns last season. The 5-5, 170-pounder also returned 28 kicks for 703 yards (25.1 yards-per-return) and a touchdown. And he returned 18 punts for 182 yards.
"If Montel steps in where Bernard left off, it can only be a plus for the team, the [Big East] conference, and Matt," Warren Brown said. "That's kind of clear in that regard."
Contact Keith Pompey at 215-854-2939 or kpompey@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @pompeysgridlock.
