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Maryland running back Lorenzo Harrison III has medically retired from football, he announced on Twitter Monday afternoon.
“From the time I was 4 years old, football has been the absolute center of my life. This game has taken me places at the age of 22 most could only dream of,” Harrison wrote. “However, during the last game I competed in, I suffered a severe knee injury.
“Due to those circumstances which are far out of my control, I believe it is in my best interest to convert my focus from ball to the next great thing God has in store for me. With that being said, I am medically retiring from the game that has given me everything I could ever ask for.”
When Harrison tore his MCL and partially tore his ACL against Penn State on Sept. 27, 2019, it marked the second straight year cut short by a major injury. Back in his true junior campaign, he suffered a knee injury in practice that kept him to just two games during the 2018 season.
For his career, Harrison played in 26 games across four years, finishing with 1,409 rushing yards on 242 carries (5.8 yards per attempt) with nine touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for 108 yards.
Entering 2020, Harrison was set to potentially be the leading member of a backfield group in serious question. Star rushers Anthony McFarland Jr. and Javon Leake both declared for the NFL Draft, Jake Funk is coming off a season-ending knee injury of his own, and Tayon Fleet-Davis’ status is in doubt after an off-the-field incident late last season.
With Harrison’s departure, the Terps have zero running backs with college experience who are healthy and/or guaranteed to be part of the team entering next season. Mike Locksley signed two high school recruits — Isaiah Jacobs (brother of Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs) and Peny Boone — during the early signing period, while Ebony Jackson is committed but remains unsigned.
Maryland could also be more active in the transfer portal over the next month, as perhaps Locksley could sway a veteran running back to come to College Park for his second season as head coach.