Montel Harris to play for Temple

Updated: July 9, 2012, 4:30 PM ET

Former Boston College running back Montel Harris has transferred to Temple and is eligible to play this season. He arrived on campus Sunday and is enrolled in summer classes, which began Monday.

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Harris' arrival is huge for the Owls, who are about to embark on their first season in the Big East. He goes into the season as the FBS active career rushing leader, with 3,735 total yards while playing for the Eagles.

Harris suffered a knee injury in 2011 and took a medical redshirt, and then hurt the knee again in spring practice. In May, he was kicked off Boston College's team for repeated violations of team rules.

After that, speculation began that he would end up at Temple, where former Boston College assistants Ryan Day (now Temple's offensive coordinator) and Kevin Rogers (quarterbacks coach) have been hired.

Since Harris has graduated from BC, he is eligible to play immediately because he can take graduate courses at Temple that are not offered at his former school.

Harris should find a spot in the Owls' lineup immediately. Temple lost its leading rusher, Bernard Pierce, who left school early to enter the NFL draft. The Owls do return Matt Brown, who has seen extensive playing time over the last several seasons. But where there were some depth questions, Harris' arrival makes this a position of strength moving into Year 1 in the Big East.