Ryan Harris attended Cretin Derham High School in St. Paul, Minnesota where he played football and was an all-conference wrestler. Outside of athletics, Harris was a member of the city's youth advisory board, the national honor society and served as student council president as a senior. He was a three-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines for the football team. As an offensive tackle he didn't allow a single sack his junior and senior seasons. As a senior defensive tackle he finished with 46 tackles and 11 sacks on the year. He earned all-metro, all-state, and all-american honors as a senior, helping his team to a 10-2 overall record. He was selected to play in the U.S. Army all-American Bowl following his senior season. Ryan was considered to be one of the top 50 overall prospects in the nation and accepted a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame where he made an impact as a true freshman. Ryan became just the third offensive lineman in school history to start as a true freshman, starting the final eight games of the season at right tackle. He was named to numerous freshman all-American teams following his first season in South Bend. Ryan shifted to the left side, starting all 12 games at left tackle as a sophomore. He earned the team's offensive lineman of the year award at the conclusion of the season. As a junior, Harris once again anchored the Notre Dame offensive line, starting all 12 games at left tackle. He entered his senior season as a leader for the fighting Irish and one of the better offensive tackles in the nation.

Ryan Harris is an experienced tackle who has started at both left and right tackle during his time at Notre Dame. He played right tackle as a true freshman, before shifting to the left side as a sophomore where he has served as Brady Quinn's blindeside protector the past couple years. Harris is a long, lean tackle with long arms that allow him to keep defenders away from his body. He is a great pass protector who displays solid technique and good footwork. He has a non-stop motor and goes all out on every play until the whistle is blown. Harris lacks great size and strength and isn't very strong at the point of attack. He isn't very physical and is a better pass blocker than he is a run blocker. He can be beaten by stronger defensive linemen and he needs to bulk up and increase his strength to be more of a factor in the running game. Ryan Harris could stay at left tackle or move inside to guard at the next level. He projects as a first day pick in the 2007 NFL draft.