
TJ Harden
2025 Rush/Rec Stats
2025 Rush/Rec Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Harden has some big shoes to fill in Dallas, as SMU needs to replace its star halfback Brashard Smith. Harden is plenty experienced, having racked up 1,658 rushing yards on 5.1 yards per carry over three seasons at UCLA. He could be in for the biggest workload of his career this fall, but Derek McFall (106 yards, two touchdowns last season for the Mustangs) is also in the picture, as is Miami (FL) transfer Chris Johnson and true freshman Dramekco Green. Harden's experience should help him earn a sizable role in the backfield, however, along with another unique trait he brings to the table: receiving chops. Last fall for the Bruins, Harden caught 40 passes for 368 yards. With defenses also needing to worry about the legs of star dual-threat quarterback Kevin Jennings, SMU should once again boast a strong running game, which would obviously be fruitful for Harden in 2025. Read Past Outlooks

Trending toward backfield committee
Coach Kyle Cooper indicated Tuesday that Harden will be in the rotation of a running back committee for the 2025 season, Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News reports.
ANALYSIS
Harden transferred in from UCLA with high expectation of being the lead back out of the backfield but has not quite separated himself from the rest of the pack. The senior running back is poised to split the workload with Derrick McFall, Dramekco Green and Chris Johnson. He will be one of the most experienced runners in the room, totaling over 800 scrimmage yards across 12 games in 2024.
Harden transferred in from UCLA with high expectation of being the lead back out of the backfield but has not quite separated himself from the rest of the pack. The senior running back is poised to split the workload with Derrick McFall, Dramekco Green and Chris Johnson. He will be one of the most experienced runners in the room, totaling over 800 scrimmage yards across 12 games in 2024.
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2024 Fantasy Outlook
Harden was essentially stuck in a committee in the 2023 season with Carson Steele. Steele got the upper hand with 11 more carries on the year and 20 more rushing yards, but Harden's athleticism got him two more touchdowns. With Steele moving on to the NFL, Harden has the chance for a breakout season as he could get the bulk of reps on the ground. In a backfield that wasn't solely his during the 2023 campaign, Harden was still able to register 827 yards and eight touchdowns rushing. Second on the running back depth chart is the ever-versatile Keegan Jones, who played wide receiver last season but returned to the backfield this season after a brief foray in the transfer portal, though the team added another experienced back in Jalen Berger to fill out the depth. Harden has done a great job in exploiting defenses and being a star on the field even when he wasn't the sole rusher for UCLA, so this year could be huge even if Harden doesn't completely dominate the carry share.
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Signs with SMU
Harden will transfer to Southern Methodist University, he announced on his personal X account.
ANALYSIS
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Will enter portal
Harden plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal for the upcoming season, On3.com reports.
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Logs four carries Week 14
Harden (undisclosed) logged four carries for 23 yards and one touchdown and reeled in two of three targets for negative five yards during Saturday's 20-13 victory over Fresno State.
ANALYSIS
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Listed as questionable
Harden is questionable for Saturday's game against Fresno State, per the Big Ten availability report.
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Eclipses 100 total yards in loss
Harden tallied 14 rushes for 98 yards and reeled in all three targets for 37 yards during Saturday's 19-13 defeat versus USC.
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