What’s up with Michael Harrison?

Photo Attribution: USATSI

I talked about Michael Harrison briefly in my Monday Mailbag and had every reason to believe he would be back for the 2013 season.

However, Gina Mizell wrote a post yesterday in which she had this to say:

Oklahoma State recently released its 2013 spring football roster, a handy tool as I prep for practice to begin on Monday.

As I scanned each position while working on this daily series that will lead us up to that first workout, I noticed that Harrison wasn’t listed. I was told in December that the Cowboys expected him back in 2013 after serving his NCAA suspension for the 2012 season.

So I inquired about it. And now, it appears things have changed, as an OSU source told me Harrison is no longer expected to rejoin the team. The source stressed Harrison did not get in trouble, but that his commitment to the program was in question.

She’s right. A quick scan of the OSU spring roster and Harrison’s name isn’t on it.

But Brendon Morris seems convinced that Harrison will still play next year as he tweeted this out last night after Gina’s post:

Just saw WR Michael Harrison out to dinner with the rest of the #OKState receivers. Another indication he'll be back this fall.

— Brendon Morris (@brendon_wm) March 6, 2013

I have no idea who’s right here and to be honest, I don’t know that anyone will know for sure until the fall.

Harrison’s case has been a strange one. Usually there’s information on what somebody did or why he’s no longer on the team. With Harrison though it’s just been that he “was suspended by the NCAA and not Gundy.” That’s all we have.

Clint Chelf could certainly use an extra target when OSU opens against Mississippi State but I don’t really think Michael Harrison is going to swing the Big 12 race.