Myles Harden (born December 13, 2001) is an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

cornerback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

for the South Dakota Coyotes and was selected by the Browns in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Early life

Harden was born on December 13, 2001, in Miami Gardens, Florida, where he grew up. After initially playing basketball, he first tried out

at age eight. He attended Miramar High School in Florida where he played both football and track and field, being a three-year varsity letter-winner on the football team after being called up from the junior varsity as a

sophomore In the United States, a sophomore ( or ) is a person in the second year at an educational institution; usually at a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of post-secondary educational institutions. In ...

. As a junior, Harden received honorable mention All-County honors and as a

senior Senior (shortened as Sr.) means "the elder" in Latin and is often used as a suffix for the elder of two or more people in the same family with the same given name, usually a parent or grandparent. It may also refer to: * Senior (name), a surname ...

he totaled eight interceptions while being named All-County. He helped Miramar win a district title and was invited to the Dade vs. Broward County All-Star Game. Harden received little attention as a recruit, ultimately enrolling at the University of South Dakota as a zero-star prospect.

College career

Harden's first year, the 2020 season, was postponed to spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in his debut, he totaled four tackles, two interceptions and two

pass deflections In American football, a pass deflected, also known as a pass deflection, a pass defended, a pass , a pass knockdown, or a pass breakup, is an incomplete pass that is caused by a defensive player. This is done by slapping or blocking the ball with ...

. He ultimately started four games and recorded 16 tackles, nine pass deflections and two interceptions, being the nation leader in pass defended per game while being named honorable mention All- Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), to the All-MVFC newcomer team, and

freshman A freshman, fresher, first year, or frosh, is a person in the first year at an educational institution, usually a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of post-secondary educational institutions. Ara ...

All-American by HERO Sports. Harden's fall 2021 season ended six games in due to a leg injury; he was the team's fourth-leading tackler by the time of his injury. In 2022, he played in six games before re-injuring the same leg and missing the rest of the year. He nonetheless was named All-MVFC, HERO Sports sophomore All-American and was the third-leading tackler on the team by that point (44 tackles), also forcing six turnovers with nine pass deflections. In his senior year, Harden became team

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

and played in 13 games, finishing with 58 tackles, seven pass deflections and an interception while being chosen first-team All-MVFC and first-team All-American by several selectors. Harden declared for the 2024 NFL draft and received invites to the East–West Shrine Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine.

Professional career

Harden was selected in the seventh round (227th overall) of the 2024 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. He was placed on injured reserve on September 12, 2024.

References

External links

Cleveland Browns bioSouth Dakota Coyotes bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harden, Myles 2001 births Living people American football cornerbacks Players of American football from Miami-Dade County, Florida Miramar High School alumni South Dakota Coyotes football players Cleveland Browns players