Consistency and versatility have been the benchmarks for Harris' career at North Carolina State, where he started 42 consecutive games. What is even more impressive is the fact that he accomplished that feat while starting at both offensive guard positions, center and left tackle, providing the team with a valuable weapon to combat the injuries that plagued the line in recent years. Alas, it was an injury to his ankle (ligament damage) vs. Clemson that brought his career to a close, two games earlier than expected in 2006.

Harris was a two-way down lineman at Southeast Raleigh High School, where he was an All-TAAC choice on offense and defense. He finished second in the voting for Conference Player of the Year honors. He was a three-time All-Pac Nine Conference performer and played in the Shrine Bowl and East-West All-Star game. Rivals.com rated Harries the best defensive tackle prospect in the state and 39th-best in the country. Prep Star rated him the fourth-best defensive tackle in the Atlantic region.

As a defensive tackle, Harris recorded 56 tackles, including 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage as a senior. He also caused three fumbles, made two fumble recoveries and batted away four passes. As a junior, he totaled 46 tackles, forced four fumbles, had three fumble recoveries and blocked three kicks.

In addition to his exploits on the football field, Harris wrestled and participated in track. He posted a 23-1 mark in wrestling, winning the 2002 4A state title in the 275-pound weight class. He also threw the shot put and discus.

Harris enrolled at North Carolina State in 2002, spending the season on the scout team as a center. He took over left offensive guard duties in 2003, recording 27 knockdowns and 12 intimidation blocks (defender is put on his back), along with 33 railroads (defender is driven back five yards or more) while participating in 910 plays. He earned Freshman All-American honors from The Sporting News and the Football Writers Association. He shared team Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors and was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention, thanks to his impressive collegiate debut.

Harris was an All-ACC honorable mention in 2004, despite missing the final four games with a broken bone in his left shoulder suffered against Miami. He started the first five games at left guard, shifting over to center midway through the North Carolina game when injuries depleted the line's depth. He stood at center for the next two games against Maryland and Miami. Harris still managed to lead the team with 39 railroad blocks, adding 42 knockdowns and 14 intimidation blocks in 477 snaps.

The team's Most Valuable Offensive Lineman and an All-ACC pick, Harris started every game, lining up at center for the first 11 games in 2005. He then shifted to left guard vs. South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl after suffering a hand injury that prevented him from snapping the ball. He participated in 761 plays, coming up with a career-high 64 knockdowns and 23 railroad blocks. He and his wife, Christina, also welcomed the birth of their first child (Leroy III) in October of that year.

Harris was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2006. His versatility again played a major role for the team. He started the first eight games at center, but also saw action at offensive tackle and guard.

Harris shifted to right guard against Georgia Tech and then started at left guard vs. Clemson. He suffered ankle ligament damage in the Clemson clash, though, and was forced to sit out the team's final two games. He concluded the season by posting 59 knockdowns with 25 railroads in 10 contests.

Positives: Lacks ideal muscle definition, but shows good thickness throughout his frame, with wide hips, big bubble and smooth thigh, calves, arms and midsection … Naturally strong athlete who has the hand punch and leg drive to generate movement on the rise from his stance … Has very good balance for a player with his girth, showing quick feet and the ability to sink his weight and maintain balance in pass protection … Plays with true aggression, as he looks to put the opponent on his back every play … It is rare to see him go to the ground, but when he does, he is quick to get up and then looks for a target to hit … Has no problems digesting the playbook and does a good job of calling blocking schemes … Shows good vision to coverages and is quick to pick up stunts and games … Is a better center prospect than guard, as he shows more productivity blocking at the line then when moving in space … Mature and responsible player who is vocal on the field and takes well to hard coaching … Plays with injuries that would sideline others … Shows good power maintaining the rush lane, keeping his head on a swivel with hands properly extended to push the linebackers back out of the holes … Gains advantage at the snap and is quick to react to movement … Generates good pop on contact and has the lower body strength and leg drive to move laterally while maintaining balance … Uses his mass and hand punch to lock on and wall off the bigger nose tackles … Gets good fits with his hands locked on to the defender and has the hip snap and roll to power through the opponent … Plays with good leverage and his low center of gravity lets him get under defenders and ride them out … Has good knee bend and plays with a flat back, showing the agility to slide, lock on and wall off on drive blocks … Maintains position and will sustain and finish with aggression … Has the short-area quickness and good balance blocking in space, but needs to work on his footwork, as he sometimes bends more at the waist than his knees when moving in space (better production comes on short traps than long pulls) … Takes good angles in pursuit and has the vision to locate and neutralize second-level defenders … Does not have great timed speed, but will look up defenders down field … Shows good power in his anchor and pass set, sliding his feet well to take on the quicker pass rushers … He keeps his weight back, stays square and can slide and adjust to change of direction … Can anchor vs. the bull rush and is alert to tricks … Uses his hands effectively to gain control, grab and steer wide.

Negatives: Has natural strength, but needs to put in extra hours in the training room to add muscle tone and decrease his mid-section (looks soft and fleshy) … Better puncher in tight quarters, as he will lunge and over-extend at times when trying to block on the move … Lacks the speed to be effective pulling in space, making him a better center prospect than guard (tends to leave his feet in attempts to make second level blocks) …

Needs to get bigger in order to handle the bigger nose guards he will face in the pros, but has struggled some in the past to maintain his weight throughout the season … Extra bulk could impact his adequate mobility and timed speed … Has trouble with counter moves vs. the speedy defenders and lacks the mirror skills to take on the edge rush … Has strong hands, but needs to reset and recoil them quicker … Adequate student academically, but can takes the plays from the chalkboard to the playing field.

Compares To: NICK LECKEY-Arizona … Both centers compensate for a lack of ideal size with a powerful hand punch, good aggression and explosiveness coming off the snap. Harris has been banged up two of the past three years, but is the type who will play with pain, if the trainers don't hide his helmet. He shows good leg drive and pop on contact and even when taking on the mammoth nose guards, he has the low center of gravity and balance to wall his man off on drive blocks. Even though Harris has experience at guard, he is not nearly as effective working in space as when parked on the line, making him a better center prospect.

Ranked eighth on the roster in 2006 with a 440-pound bench press and placed fifth with a 315-pound power clean … Led the team in knockdown blocks in each of his last two seasons, and led the team's down linemen in "Raleigh Rails" blocks (driving the defender back at least five yards) in all four of his seasons as a starter, despite missing playing time as a sophomore and senior due to injuries … Had a string of 42 consecutive starts.

Named the inaugural Sonitrol Offensive Lineman of the Year … 2006 ACSMA/AP All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection … Recognized as NC State's Offensive Lineman of the Year … Served as offensive team captain … Started the team's first eight games at center before shifting to right guard vs. Georgia Tech and left guard vs. Clemson … Also saw action at offensive tackle … Suffered ankle ligament damage vs. Clemson that would sideline him for the team's final two contests vs. North Carolina and East Carolina … Still managed to lead the team with 59 knockdown blocks, helping the team average 302.0 yards per game … Part of an offensive line that allowed 19 sacks, but that unit also saw Gamecocks quarterbacks pressured 37 times … Both figures were a reduction from the previous season, when State's front wall allowed 28 sacks and 45 pressures in 2005 … Did not allow his opponents to record any tackles vs. Harris in six of the ten games he appeared in (Akron, Southern Mississippi, Boston College, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Clemson) … Did not allow and quarterback sacks and gave up only one pressure in 553 plays.

Appalachian State … Opened the season with seven knockdowns and eleven key blocks for an offense that generated 206 yards on the ground, clearing a rush lane used by Andre Brown for a 43-yard scoring burst up the middle in the first quarter … Head to Head Competition-MLB#27-Cam Speer-Three tackles (one solo).

Akron … Registered fourteen key blocks, including ten knockdowns to pace State's offense that totaled 290 yards … Leveled linebacker Kevin Grant on an 11-yard scoring strike by QB Marcus Stone to Jamelle Baker that capped a 53-yard drive with 1:07 left on the clock …

Head to Head Competition-NG#97-Kiki Gonzalez-No tackles.

Southern Mississippi … Followed with seven knockdowns, but the team managed just 77 yards on 21 carries … Head to Head Competition-NG#99-Sean Merrill-No tackles.

Boston College … State gained only 320 yards, but Harris produced ten key blocks, taking down linebacker Brian Toal to spring Andre Brown for a 26-yard scoring scamper in the third quarter … Head to Head Competition-NG#60-Ron Brace-No tackles.

Florida State … Graded a season-high 93% as Harris was in on twelve key blocks, including six knockdowns … The offense accounted for 340 yards in a 24-20 decision, as Harris upended linebacker Lawrence Timmons on Daniel Evans' 16-yard touchdown pass to Donald Bowens … Did see nose guard Andre Flellen slip past Harris to tackle fullback Toney Baker for a 5-yard loss on a mid first quarter rushing attempt … Head to Head Competition-NG#96-Andre Fluellen-Three tackles (one solo), 1.5 stops for minus 6 yards.

Wake Forest … Registered nine key blocks and seven knockdowns in 70 plays, pushing his way into the end zone with Andre Brown following on a 1-yard scoring run in the second quarter … On the team's next drive, Harris leveled linebacker Jon Abbate to spring Brown for a 3-yard touchdown with 5:58 left in the first half … His only miscue came when nose guard Jamil Smith pressured QB Daniel Evans on an incomplete pass at the start of the second quarter … Head to Head Competition-NG#90-Jamil Smith-No tackles, one pressure.

Maryland … Credited with seven knockdowns on 67 plays and ten key blocks … Cleared a rush lane used by Andre Brown for a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, as the Gamecocks totaled 154 yards rushing … Head to Head Competition-NG#68-Carlos Feliciano-One assisted tackle.

Virginia … In his final game as a center, Harris came up with fourteen key blocks and seven knockdowns on 67 snaps, helping the team generate 220 yards passing … Head to Head Competition-NG#94-Allen Billyk-One assisted tackle.

Georgia Tech … Shifted to right guard, but continued his steady play, as he did not allow any tackles at his new position … Posted eight key blocks and four knockdowns, as the team collected 270 yards passing … Head to Head Competition-DT#95-Darryl Richard-No tackles.

Clemson … Moved to left guard, making three knockdowns on the team's first nineteen plays, but suffered ankle ligament damage on a running play at the end of the first quarter and did not return to the game.

North Carolina and East Carolina … Did not play in the final two games due to his ankle injury.

All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection by The Sporting News … Member of the Rimington Award (nation' top center) Watch List … Started the team's first eleven games at center and shifted to guard for the Meineke Car Care Bowl when he couldn't snap due to a broken bone in his right hand … Participated in 791 plays, coming up with 62 knockdowns and 92 key blocks for an offense that averaged 314.6 yards per game … Gave up two of the offensive line's 28 sacks allowed … Named the team's Most Valuable Lineman.

Credited with ten key blocks on 73 plays vs. Virginia Tech … Added six knockdowns vs. Eastern Kentucky and had a season-high thirteen knockdowns, a 92% grade and 17 key blocks in the Southern Mississippi clash … Posted eight knockdowns on 62 plays vs. Florida State … Followed with seven key blocks and five knockdowns on 38 plays vs. Middle Tennessee … Shifted to guard, delivering five knockdowns vs. South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention, despite missing the team's final four contests with a left shoulder fracture … Still managed to lead the team with 39 "Raleigh Rail" blocks (lineman drives his opponent back five yards), as he registered 42 knock-downs and 95 key blocks on 477 plays … Started the team's first five games at left guard before shifting to center vs. Maryland and Miami.

Freshman All-American pick by The Sporting News and the Football Writers Association, adding All-ACC honorable mention … Co-recipient of the team's Newcomer of the Year Award … Started every game at left offensive guard, participating in 910 plays … Posted 27 knockdowns and 72 key blocks.

Redshirted as a freshman, performing on the scout team at center.

2004: Sat out the team's final four games vs. Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State and East Carolina after breaking a bone in his left shoulder vs. Miami.

2005: Shifted to left guard vs. South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl after suffering a broken bone in his right hand during practice (injury prevented him from snapping at center).

2006: Suffered ankle ligament damage, missing three quarters of the Clemson game and sitting out the final two contests vs. North Carolina and East Carolina.

Campus: 5.23 seconds in the 40-yard dash … 440-pound bench press … 315-pound power clean … 27-inch vertical jump … 8'8" broad jump … 19 percent body fat … 32 7/8-inch arm length … 10 1/2-inch hands … Right-handed … Wears contacts … 16/22 Wonderlic score.

Attended Southeast Raleigh (N.C.) High School, playing football for head coach Chad Oshes … Two-way down lineman … All-TAAC choice on offense and defense … Finished second in the voting for Conference Player of the Year honors … Three-time All-Pac Nine Conference performer and played in the Shrine Bowl and East-West All-Star game … Rivals.com rated Harris the best defensive tackle prospect in the state and 39th-best in the country … Prep Star rated him the fourth-best defensive tackle in the Atlantic region … As a defensive tackle, Harris recorded 56 tackles, including 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage as a senior … Also caused three fumbles, made two fumble recoveries and batted away four passes … As a junior, he totaled 46 tackles, forced four fumbles, three fumble recoveries and blocked three kicks … Harris also wrestled and participated in track … Posted a 23-1 mark in wrestling, winning the 2002 4A state title in the 275-pound weight class … Also threw the shot put and discus.

Sports Management major … He and his wife, Christina, had their first child, Leroy III, in October, 2005 … Born 6/06/84 … Resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.