NC A&T CB Aaron Harris Declares for 2026 NFL Draft, Earns Pro Day Spotlight

Aaron Harris announced his declaration for the 2026 NFL Draft via social media, closing out a career at North Carolina A&T that saw him emerge as one of the CAA's steadiest defensive backs despite a difficult team season. The cornerback finished 2025 with 42 tackles, 29 of them solo, and 13 pass breakups, numbers that caught the attention of pro scouts and earned him an invitation to the HBCU Legacy Bowl.

FCS Football Central on Sports Illustrated responded by releasing a detailed scouting report on Harris as the pro day evaluation window opens, slotting him eighth on a prospect list and projecting him as a "quality rotational second-tier league prospect." The SI entry carries the dual designation CB/RS, reflecting Harris' value as a return specialist alongside his coverage work. Evaluators cited his fluidity and smoothness in coverage, his instincts, and his special teams contributions as core strengths. The noted concerns center on run support, tackling technique, frame, and limited reps at the nickel position.

Harris made his intentions clear in a letter posted to his social media platforms. "First and foremost, I would like to thank the man up above for giving me the abilities to play this sport that I love so much," he wrote. "God has brought me through all kinds of adversity throughout my life, and I just can't thank Him enough for everything He has done for me. Through the ups, through the downs, I never lost trust in God." He continued: "A special thank you to Coach Gibbs and the current staff for welcoming me back into the program with open arms, nothing but love for you all."

He closed the letter with a direct nod to his school's identity before making his announcement official: "To the best HBCU in the nation: Aggie born, Aggie bred, and when I die, I'll be Aggie dead. 4ever Ayantee. With that being said, I'm excited to announce that I am officially declaring for the 2026 NFL."

The individual production came against a difficult team backdrop. North Carolina A&T won just two games in CAA conference play this season, but Harris remained a key piece of the Aggie defense throughout, drawing recognition as one of the conference's most consistent defensive backs even as the program worked through a rebuilding stretch.

His HBCU Legacy Bowl invitation places him among draft-eligible talent selected specifically to expand scouting access for players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Harris' declaration lands him on draft boards alongside other HBCU prospects in the SI evaluation pool, including North Carolina Central safety Malcolm Reed and Bethune-Cookman cornerback Johnny Harris, though the FCS Football Central report focuses its pro day spotlight squarely on the Aggie corner. Physical measurements and athletic testing numbers from pro day workouts have not yet been publicly released, leaving scouts to weigh the tape and the 2025 statistical line as the pre-draft process moves forward.