Hogs looking for sure hands, some yards from return man

SCOTT CAIN
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE -- Left naked at punt returner when Steadman Campbell was lost to injury, Arkansas really needed a replacement with experience.
True freshman Steven Harris qualified. Barely.
Harris has fielded one punt in college, a sliding fair catch at Tennessee. He'll take over the job full time when Arkansas plays UNLV on Thursday in the Las Vegas Bowl.
The position opened unexpectedly last week when Campbell dislocated his ankle in practice. Harris and Gerald Howard have taken turns at punt returner since then. Howard will stay the up return man, who lines up about 10 yards ahead of Harris to take short kicks.
If Harris' full-time debut goes anything like his practices, then he'll do fine in spite of his inexperience.
"My stomach's not doing flips over it," said defensive coordinator John Thompson, who oversees the punt return team.
While Harris has caught only the one punt, that's not his only playing experience this season. He has been returning kickoffs most of the season, pressed into that spot when Fred Talley broke his hand in the third game. He also has caught one pass.
Harris has game-breaking ability, Thompson said. Harris, 5-11, 168 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds in August, third-fastest among the true freshmen behind Radale Pearson (4.39) and Lawrence Richardson (4.42).
Coaches will be satisfied if Harris can catch the punts cleanly for now. Returning the punt more than a few yards would be a bonus.
Howard could step into Harris' place if needed but his shoulder remains a little tender from a late-season injury.
"I think those guys can give us a little something, but right now that's just the main thing, catch the ball and make good decisions," Coach Houston Nutt said. "We're really talking about when you're backed up, things like that, things that you take for granted with Steadman. We didn't have any problems in the last five weeks so you don't seem to think about it, but we've been thinking about it a lot lately."
Campbell gave the coaches peace of mind when he took over for Richard Smith around midseason. Campbell provided sure hands, not losing any punts, and averaged 6.4 yards on 16 returns.
"Steadman just gave us so much confidence in making good ball-sense, moxie decisions ... when to, when not to," Thompson said. "Those were major factors in the last two wins."
Harris has pledged to bring the same stability to punt returns, something he might only have thought about doing on the scout team a few months ago.
Harris thought this would be a redshirt season until late September when Talley was injured. Harris has averaged 21 yards on 20 kickoff returns with a long of 44 yards.
Despite the sudden call up to the varsity, Harris said he never felt nervous and he isn't trembling now either.
"I think I'm ready," Harris said. "I've got a lot of confidence. I'm not worried about fielding the ball, just getting up the field."
During high school in Hialeah, Fla., Harris scored seven touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns.
At Arkansas' practice Sunday, he made a Willie Mays-style catch over his shoulder and he did it with ease, not awkwardly. That's a sign that Harris has the athleticism and instincts to handle the job, Thompson said.
"He looks smooth, comfortable," Howard said. "He's sure-handed. You wouldn't know he was a freshman."
The Razorbacks are counting on it.

This article was published on Saturday, December 16, 2000

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