Southeast's Harris takes the handoff at RB

~ The junior tailback gets the lead role in the running game after the departure of Holloman

Henry Harris didn't get a huge number of carries last year, but he displayed plenty of play-making ability when the football was in his hands.

Now Southeast Missouri State's junior tailback hopes to take his game to the next level as the main man in the Redhawks' backfield.

"I'm ready to handle it," Harris said. "I'm ready to step up and take a leadership role."

Harris played in 10 of Southeast's 12 games a year ago, making one start. He had 76 carries, for an average of just less than eight attempts per game.

Harris took advantage of those opportunities, ranking second on the Redhawks with 318 yards rushing while averaging a team-leading 4.2 yards per carry.

That was in his first season with the program after transferring from Memphis. It also came with Southeast having Timmy Holloman, the team's leading rusher the past four years.

Now that Holloman has completed his eligibility, Harris entered fall camp as the starter.

"I know I've got big shoes to fill," Harris said of replacing Holloman, who ranks third on Southeast's career rushing list with 2,424 yards. "But last year was a good learning experience. Timmy showed me through the ropes."

Harris, who scored four touchdowns last year and added eight receptions for 64 yards, had his only 100-yard game in his only start of the season, Sept. 27 at Indiana State.

In that contest, which featured a comeback win for the Redhawks, Harris set career highs with 24 carries and 110 yards.

Southeast coach Tony Samuel believes that type of performance is not out of the norm for the quick, speedy Harris.

"H2 is a talented running back. He had a very good year," said Samuel, whose squad opened practice Friday.

Harris believes he'll be even better equipped for success this year after going through his first spring with the Redhawks.

"I think it's going to help me a lot," said Harris, a Memphis, Tenn., native who saw limited action for the Tigers in 2007 after redshirting in 2006.

While Harris is not big by running back standards -- he is listed as 5 foot 8 and 185 pounds -- he is strong and compact. He believes he'll be able to withstand the pounding despite his lack of bulk.

"I have before, back in high school," said Harris, who gained 1,579 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior at Christian Brothers in Memphis, where he ranks as the program's all-time rushing leader. "That's a long time ago, but I'm ready to be called upon."

Harris and Samuel both emphasized that Harris will not be a one-man gang in the Redhawks' backfield.

Samuel expects sophomore Jacob McKinley and junior Mike Jones to get their share of carries.

McKinley, No. 2 on the depth chart, is a small, elusive runner who primarily made his mark on special teams as a true freshman when he set the school record for kickoff return yardage.

The 170-pound McKinley returned 35 kickoff for 785 yards (22.4 average), including a long of 85 yards. In spot duty out of the backfield, he gained 76 yards on 21 carries (3.6 average).

Jones is listed at fullback, but he also will be used at tailback. The 240-pound banger rushed for 174 yards last year (3.9 average), after posting 291 yards (4.9 average) as a true freshman.

"All three of those guys are very capable," Samuel said.

Said Harris: "It's not just about one person, it's about the team. I need my teammates."

And he needs his offensive line, which appears to have better depth after the 2008 Redhawks were thin in that area.

"They're looking awesome right now," Harris said.