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| FORMER LEESBURG YELLOW JACKETS STANDOUT TORY HARRISON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISS |
Written by
Tim Doherty
tdoherty@clarionledger.com
Southern Miss running back Damion Fletcher is the No. 1 option out of the backfield for the Golden Eagles.
But fellow sophomore Tory Harrison might be considered option 1-A.
Fletcher popped onto the collegiate landscape last fall, rushing for 1,388 yards and 11 touchdowns in one of the most productive seasons by a freshman running back in NCAA history.
But Harrison also made a mark, averaging 6.3 yards a carry while running for 326 yards and two scores.
"I think those two sophomores understand there is a competition now," USM running backs coach Courtney Messingham said. "The best thing about Tory is that he understands our offense so well.
"He can play tailback. We can go two-tailback settings, just because he understands the fullback situation. He has very good hands as a receiver, so you can slide him out of the backfield if you needed to."
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| University of Southern Miss RB Tory Harrison |
The 6-foot-1, 188-pound Harrison is a bigger back with more speed in the open than the shifty, darting Fletcher.
"Tory brings more down-the-field speed and can make you miss, but not to the extent Damion can,"
Messingham said. "If you throw two or three guys in a room and say, 'Play tag,' Damion can touch everybody and make everybody miss."
Harrison said he is ready.
"I've gotten comfortable with everything, and I'm confident in myself now because I know I can do it," Harrison said.
Harrison's playing time last year was regulated by injuries and the ascension of Fletcher.
In fact, Harrison seemed destined for a redshirt season. But three veteran backs quit the team during the season, and when Fletcher had arthroscopic knee surgery after the Houston game, Harrison was moved from the sideline onto the depth chart.
He debuted against Virginia Tech, but gained just 27 yards on eight carries in two games.
Then came Memphis. Harrison ran for 138 yards against the Tigers, including a 50-yard run, the longest of the season by a USM back. He added 68 yards the next week against Tulane, scoring his first touchdown.
A shoulder injury against UAB kept him out of the regular-season finale and the Conference USA championship game. But Harrison was back for the GMAC Bowl against Ohio, where his 43-yard run for USM's first touchdown sparked a 28-7 victory over the Bobcats.
Now, Harrison said he's counting on seeing more work and becoming a more consistent performer.
"Who's starting, to me that's not that important," Harrison said. "I just want us to share the ball.
"From a running back standpoint, we don't even think about each other in a selfish way. We all get along fine, and whoever gets the ball, we're just going to do our thing with it."
RESOURCES
Tim Doherty
tdoherty@clarionledger.com
Article provided by:
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Carver Heights Quarterback Club
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