The heart and soul of the Hurricanes' defense, Harris replaced Vince Wilfork as the team's dominant force in the middle of the defensive line. Blessed with an incredible wing span and large hands, Harris simply engulfs quarterbacks and ballcarriers when attacking in the backfield. He hopes that his productive career at Miami will see him follow his brother, Kwame, (San Francisco) as an early NFL Draft selection.

Kwame Harris was rated the nation's top defensive line prospect and earned All-American honors from Football News and Super Prep as a senior at Newark High School. He was named Delaware's Gatorade Player of the Year, Lineman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and earned a National Top 100 selection by The Dallas Morning News. Rivals.com rated Harris the third-best defensive lineman in the prep ranks.

Harris recorded 130 tackles (95 solos), 9.5 quarterback sacks and a whopping 70 stops for losses as a senior. That season, he guided the team to a 12-0 record and the 2000 Division I State Championship. He finished his career with 496 tackles (331 solos), 33 quarterback sacks and 252 stops behind the line of scrimmage (51 percent of his total). He also excelled in the classroom, graduating with a 3.28 grade-point average.

Harris redshirted in 2001 at Miami. He appeared in thirteen contests the following year, coming up with 36 tackles (14 solos), a quarterback sack, fourteen pressures and a fumble recovery. As a sophomore in 2003, he teamed with Wilfork to form a punishing tackle tandem. Harris collected 39 tackles (14 solos) and ranked second on the team with eight stops for losses and 18 pressures. He also registered four sacks.

As a junior, Harris made 55 tackles (16 solos) with 1.5 sacks, 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 14 pressures while starting every game. He continued to man the right defensive tackle position in 2005. Harris finished sixth on the team with 40 tackles (18 solos) and delivered 3.5 sacks, 11 stops for losses and nine pressures. He also recovered a fumble.

In 48 games with the Hurricanes, Harris started 34 times. He recorded 159 tackles (63 solos) with eleven sacks for minus-56 yards and 30 stops for losses of 108 yards. He was credited with 54 quarterback pressures, deflected two passes and recovered two fumbles.

Positives: Has very good balance and lower body power to push the pocket, stack and control … He possesses a good wingspan and massive hands to grab, pull and jerk the blocker to the ground … Does a good job of reading blocking schemes and feeling pressure … Two-gap tackle who can utilize his strength and leverage with effectiveness to split double teams … Keeps his balance charging up field and stays low in his pads to slip off blocks when shooting the gaps … Strong bull rusher who generates the punch to rock guards back on their heels … Good tackler with the strength to hit with pop upon contact … If he stays low in his pads and keeps his base wide, he is very difficult to move off the ball … Hard worker off the field and showed maturity and leadership ever since arriving on campus … Competitive type who may lack that nasty attitude you want in the trenches, but will not take plays off … Very effective when colliding and wrapping in close quarters.

Negatives: Will need to add more bulk if he is to shift to nose guard … Has strong, long arms, but keeps them close to his chest too much, failing to get proper placement to consistently push off on the blocker … Has a good straight-line burst, but struggles to redirect and will fade away from the play when he has to pursue outside the box … Will sometimes be late getting his hands up and is slow to cross the face of a blocker in attempts to defeat blocks … The bigger offensive linemen easily contain him when Harris plays with his arms short … Stays on his feet and shows good balance at the point of attack, but can be cut when trying to move down the line and will take time to get up … Has adequate lateral quickness, but struggles to change direction … Lacks the quick twitch moves to gain immediate penetration coming off the ball.

Harris has a compact frame with thick upper body muscle tone, thighs and calves. He has room to add more bulk for a possible move to nose guard. He plays with good leverage at the point of attack, showing good balance when flowing to the ball. His raw power allows him top stack and control effectively, but he fails to use his hands to keep blockers off his body when sliding down the line.

Coming off the snap, Harris does not generate the burst needed to get on the edge of a blocker and is inconsistent in attempts to gain advantage. His best opportunity to get into the backfield is when he shoots the gaps. Harris is alert to blocking schemes and is able to feel pressure, but outside of gap control, he is a liability making plays in pursuit.

Harris has the raw power to win battles at the line of scrimmage, but needs to learn how to shed quicker. Even with his long arms, he does not fully extend to reach into the blocker and does not seem to have a natural feel for when he should use his hands to engage. His leverage and balance allows him to keep his feet closing on the pocket. When he fails to get good hand placement, the bigger blockers are quick to lock on. When he sinks his weight and extends his arms in front, he generates a very strong push to drive the guards back into the pocket.

Harris has enough short area lateral agility to flatten, but does not have the timed speed or acceleration to chase down plays in long pursuit. Most of his problems with the bigger blockers come when he fails to cross their face and take his time coming out of his stance. When he gets stuck on a block, he does not get into pursuit angles. He is a powerful bull rusher, however. He shows good effort to finish and can power his way through the gaps. When having to chase down ballcarriers along the perimeter, he will get cut blocked and seems to fade away from the action.

Coming out of high school, Harris was touted as the most dominant defensive tackle in the game. He has had some injury issues, but none that would cause him to just produce adequately, as he has done during his career. Sure, he shows flashes of dominance, but it is very rare to see him play with consistency throughout a game. He is a punishing bull rusher with a good feel for blocking schemes, but sometimes you can time him with an hourglass rather than a stopwatch -- he looks that sluggish coming off the ball.

Started 34 of 48 games during his career … Excels at pushing the pocket, registering 54 quarterback pressures during his career … 21 of his 30 stops behind the line of scrimmage came during his final two seasons.

Associated Press second-team All-American selection … Earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention … Started every game at right defensive tackle … Ranked sixth on the team with 40 tackles (18 solos) … Produced 3.5 sacks for minus 15 yards and eleven stops for losses of 34 yards … Credited with nine quarterback pressures and also recovered a fumble … Served as one of the team's four captains.

Florida State … Opened the season with five tackles, a pressure and a pair of stops for losses … Teamed with defensive end Bryan Pata to take down tailback Leon Washington for a 1-yard loss on an early first quarter run … Dragged down linebacker Ernest Sims for a 1-yard loss on a fake punt attempt midway through the second quarter …

Head to Head Competition -- OG Jacky Claude.

Clemson … Participated in 69 of 77 plays, making a solo tackle and two pressures … Head to Head Competition -- OG Brandon Pilgrim.

Colorado … Had an assisted tackler and a pressure in 49 snaps … Head to Head Competition -- OG Edwin Harrison.

South Florida … Followed with four tackles (3 solos), a pair of pressures and a stop behind the line of scrimmage … Head to Head Competition -- OG Frank Davis.

Duke … Posted five hits (4 assists), teaming with defensive end Eric Moncur to sack QB Zack Asack for a 2-yard loss at the start of the second half … Head to Head Competition -- OG Jim Moravchik.

Temple … Added four tackles … Helped defensive end Baraka Atkins stop tailback Michael Billops for a 2-yard loss on a second quarter run and two plays later, Harris stopped Billops for no gain on a third-and-1 run … Later in the second quarter, Harris sacked QB Joe DeSanzo for minus 8 yards … Head to Head Competition -- OG Stan Primus.

North Carolina … Totaled four tackles (3 assists) with a 5-yard sack of QB Matt Baker on a third-and-5 play late in the third quarter … Head to Head Competition -- OG Charlston Gray.

Virginia Tech … Produced five tackles (2 solos) … Took down tailback Mike Imoh for a 2-yard loss on a run off right tackle late in the third quarter … Head to Head Competition -- OG Will Montgomery.

Wake Forest … Had a pair of solo tackles and a pressure … Head to Head Competition -- OG

Arby Jones.

Georgia Tech … Made three hits (2 solos) with a pressure and 2.5 stops for minus 12 yards … Stopped tailback Tashard Choice for a 5-yard loss on Tech's opening drive, followed by taking Choice down for a 3-yard loss, along with fellow defensive tackle Kareem Brown, on Tech's next drive in the first quarter … With 0:57 left in the first half, Harris chased down QB Reggie Ball for a 5-yard loss on a draw play … Head to Head Competition -- OG Matt Rhodes.

Virginia … Credited with three solo tackles and a pressure … Sacked QB Marques Hagans for a 1-yard loss on the first drive of the second half … Head to Head Competition -- OG Branden Albert.

Louisiana State (Peach Bowl) … Closed out his career with three tackles (2 solos), including one that stopped tailback Joseph Addai for a 2-yard loss early in the fourth quarter … Had a costly penalty in the third quarter, when Harris was flagged for 15 yards after grabbing the face mask of tailback Jacob Hester on a 10-yard run, The penalty set up Hester's 1-yard touchdown run at the 5:27 mark of that quarter … Head to Head Competition -- OG Will Arnold.

All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention … Named the team's Defensive Lineman of the Year … Started every game at right defensive tackle … Recorded 44 tackles (17 solos) with 2.5 sacks for minus 11 yards and ten stops for losses of 33 yards … Credited with thirteen quarterback pressures and deflected two passes.

Florida State … Opened the season with three pressures and a pair of tackles.

Houston … Posted three more pressures with five tackles and a stop behind the line of scrimmage.

Georgia Tech … Added four hits and a pair of pressures.

Louisville … Registered a season-high nine tackles, including one for a loss.

North Carolina … Posted seven tackles (3 solos) and three stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Clemson … Delivered five hits and registered his first sack for the season when he dropped QB Charlie Whiethurst for a 5-yard loss.

Virginia Tech … Was in on eight tackles (6 assists), two pressures and a stop for a loss.

Florida (Peach Bowl) … Came up with five tackles (3 solos), three stops behind the line of scrimmage and a pressure.

Appeared in eleven games, starting ten contests (came off the bench vs. Rutgers) at right defensive tackle … Collected 39 tackles (14 solos) with four sacks for minus 23 yards … Had eight stops for losses of 34 yards and eighteen quarterback pressures.

Florida … Sacked QB Chris Leak for a 2-yard loss and made eight tackles (3 solos) with three pressures.

East Carolina … Added 1.5 stops for minus 5 yards, a pressure and seven hits (6 assists).

Boston College and Louisiana Tech … Produced four tackles with two pressures in each game.

West Virginia … Delivered three tackles (2 solos) and sacked QB Rasheed Marshall for a 7-yard loss.

Florida State … Posted five tackles (2 solos), four pressures and two stops behind the line of scrimmage, including an 8-yard sack of QB Chris Rix.

Virginia Tech … Had an assisted before leaving the game with an injured knee after being rolled up from behind at Virginia Tech … Had arthroscopic surgery on the knee the following week and missed the next two games vs. Tennessee and Syracuse.

Rutgers … Returned to action, recording two pressures.

Pittsburgh … Back in the starting lineup, Harris collected three tackles with three pressures, 1.5 stops for minus 8 yards and a 6-yard sack of QB Rod Rutherford.

Florida State (Orange Bowl) … Meeting FSU for the second time this season, Harris had one assisted tackle before leaving the game with a dislocated elbow.

Played in every game as a reserve defensive tackle … Recorded 36 tackles (14 solos) with a 7-yard sack and fourteen quarterback pressures.

Tennessee … Delivered four tackles (3 solos) with two pressures and sacked QB Casey Clausen for a 7-yard loss.

West Virginia … Was in on seven tackles (2 solos) and recovered a fumble.

Redshirted as a freshman.

2003: Suffered a knee sprain vs. Virginia Tech (11/01) that required arthroscopic surgery, forcing him to sit out the next two games vs. Tennessee and Syracuse … Sprained his elbow in the first quarter vs. Florida State in the Orange Bowl (1/01/04), missing the rest of that game.

2005: Limited during spring drills after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder (3/22).

Campus: 5.22 seconds in the 40-yard dash … 355-pound bench press … 415-pound squat … 318-pound power clean … 33 1/8-inch arm length … 11 1/8-inch hands.

Attended Newark (Del.) High School, playing football for head coach Butch Simpson …

Rated the nation's top defensive line prospect and earned All-American honors from Football News and Super Prep as a senior … Named Delaware's Gatorade Player of the Year, Lineman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year and earned a National Top 100 selection by The Dallas Morning News … Rivals.com rated Harris the third-best defensive lineman in the prep ranks … Recorded 130 tackles (95 solos), 9.5 quarterback sacks and a whopping 70 stops for losses as a senior. That season, he guided the team to a 12-0 record and the 2000 Division I State Championship … Finished his career with 496 tackles (331 solos), 33 quarterback sacks and 252 stops behind the line of scrimmage (51 percent of his total) … Also excelled in the classroom, graduating with a 3.28 grade-point average.

Criminology major … Brother, Kwame, was an All-American offensive tackle at Stanford who presently plays for the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers selected Kwame in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft … Born Orien J. Harris on 6/03/83 … Resides in Newark, Delaware.