Syracuse Football: Wide receivers, led by Taj Harris, solid vs. N.C. State

Syracuse football wide receivers, namely Taj Harris, had a good game in the loss to the Wolfpack.

Syracuse football wide receiver Taj Harris certainly did his part to keep the Orange within striking distance, even though the ‘Cuse fell by a touchdown to fellow Atlantic Coast Conference foe N.C. State on Saturday afternoon in the 2020 home finale from the Carrier Dome.

Per a press release from cuse.com, Harris hauled in a personal-best 13 receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown catch, despite the Orange falling, 36-29, to N.C. State in a heart-breaking manner.

The defeat drops the ‘Cuse to 1-9 in the fall term, and the squad has one ACC clash remaining on the docket, a trip to No. 2 and College Football Playoff contender Notre Dame next Saturday afternoon.

Harris is a 6-foot-2, 164-pound junior out of Beverly, N.J., according to his bio on the ‘Cuse athletics department Web site. In addition to his touchdown reception, Harris made a really nice grab late in the fourth quarter that helped keep alive a Syracuse football drive as the Orange attempted to tie things up with the Wolfpack. Unfortunately, the ‘Cuse couldn’t find the end zone, in suffering its seventh-straight setback.

That being said, Nate Mink of Syracuse.com writes in a piece that head coach Dino Babers “thought Harris ‘left some meat on the bone’ when a deep pass slipped through his arms earlier in the second half.”

Syracuse football wide receiver Taj Harris registered terrific production in the team’s seven-point loss to N.C. State.

Harris, in the Orange’s non-conference, blow-out loss to Liberty earlier this season on the Hill, was shown on television making an obscene hand gesture. That caught the ire of some ‘Cuse fans, and he did not make the trip the following week when Syracuse football traveled to highly rated Clemson.

Still, on the year, Harris is among the best wide receivers in the ACC. In nine encounters, he has 50 catches for 664 yards and five touchdowns. His per-game average of 73.8 yards is No. 7 in the ACC, according to league statistics.

In addition to Harris’ output, Orange WR Nykeim Johnson collected a 60-yard touchdown pass from redshirt senior quarterback Rex Culpepper, who got the start versus the Wolfpack. Johnson is a 5-foot-8, 170-pound senior who hails from Washington, D.C.

Culpepper, by the way, finished with 254 passing yards, two touchdown throws and no interceptions.