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 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 Harris the best defensive tackle prospect in the state and 39th-best in the country. PrepStar 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; he shows more productivity blocking at the line than 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; 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 lock up defenders downfield. … 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; 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 have an impact on 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.

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.

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-foot-8 broad jump. … 19 percent body fat. … 32 7/8-inch arm length. … 10½-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. … PrepStar 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, N.C.