Josiah Harris, All-Conference Safety at Gardner-Webb, Enters the Transfer Portal
AEA client Josiah Harris has entered the transfer portal. The 6-foot-2, 197-pound safety from Villa Rica, Georgia, was an All-Conference selection at Gardner-Webb in 2025 and is already drawing interest from several top programs.
The season
Harris led the conference with five interceptions in 2025, three of them in one game against Tennessee State, and earned second-team All-OVC-Big South honors at defensive back.[1][2] At his size, with that ball production, he profiles as a safety who can cover ground on the back end and finish plays.
What he brings
Length, range, and turnovers. Harris is a center-field safety who turns quarterbacks' mistakes into possessions, and a program adding him gets a proven starter at a premium position.
Update
Harris withdrew from the portal and is listed on Gardner-Webb's 2026 roster as a senior.[3]
From AEA
Whether the right answer is a new program or the one you already know, the goal is the same: the athlete makes the decision with full information and the right terms. Josiah, AEA is with you either way.
Athletes weighing the portal: Start the conversation.
Sources
1. NC Football News, "2025-26 North Carolina FCS Football Transfer Portal Tracker." ncfootballnews.com
2. AEA on Instagram (@empowerathletes), Jan. 2, 2026.
3. Gardner-Webb Athletics, Josiah Harris player bio. gwusports.com
FAQ
Who is Josiah Harris?
Josiah Harris is an AEA client and a 6-foot-2 safety at Gardner-Webb from Villa Rica, Georgia. He earned All-Conference honors in 2025 with five interceptions.
Did Josiah Harris transfer?
Harris entered the transfer portal in January 2026 and later withdrew. He is listed on Gardner-Webb's 2026 roster.
Can an athlete withdraw from the transfer portal?
Yes. An athlete can withdraw and return to his current program if the school agrees to keep him on the roster. That is one reason to have representation managing the timeline and the conversations on both sides.
