Former Pearl-Cohn star helps propel Notre Dame into CFP semifinals with 98-yard kickoff return

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Metro Nashville high school football fans may have noticed a familiar face at a crucial moment of Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff game against Georgia.

Former Pearl-Cohn receiver Jayden Harrison returned the opening kickoff in the second half of the Sugar Bowl 98 yards for a touchdown. The TD extended the Irish lead to 20-3 over the Bulldogs.

Harrison has 215 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown this season for Notre Dame. The score in the Sugar Bowl was his first kick return for a TD this season. Notre Dame went on to win the game 23-10 over the Bulldogs.

Harrison arrived in South Bend this year after three seasons at Marshall. In 2023, he had two kick returns for touchdowns with the Thundering Herd.

He spent his first two years in college at Vanderbilt, playing in nine games as a sophomore in 2020. He did not play in a game as a freshman for the Commodores in 2019.

Harrison was a 3-star recruit coming out of Pearl-Cohn after tallying 120 catches, 1864 receiving yards and 24 career TDs with the Firebirds.

Harrison and the Irish will now face Penn State in the Capital One Orange Bowl, on Thursday, January 9th at 6:30 p.m. CT in the CFP semifinals. The winner of that game advances to the national championship.