Hogs' Harris trying to make most of opportunities

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - As Steven Harris went through a pass-catching drill just outside the Broyles Complex, Arkansas wide receivers coach James Shibest yelled, ``You better be certain not to drop those. You don&#39;t get many opportunities.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> For Harris, a senior split end, making the most out of his chances has never been a problem. Getting them, however, has.<br> <br> Until last year, when he made 19 catches for 315 yards, Harris always found himself on the sidelines, either because had he suffered an injury or was slotted behind another receiver on the depth chart.<br> <br> After playing sparingly in 2000 as a freshman, Harris missed the last six games in 2001 when he hurt an anterior cruciate ligament. The following year, it didn&#39;t get any better. He was absent most of the season because of multiple ailments.<br> <br> ``The mental part was hard,&#39;&#39; Harris said. ``You don&#39;t go through high school or Pee Wee football injured. I had never been through anything like that. My family helped me out with that.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Now, four years after he arrived in Fayetteville, Harris, ironically, is the last man standing from his entire class. No longer are wide receivers George Wilson and Richard Smith blocking his path toward a starting position.<br> <br> Instead, the Miami, Fla. native will likely be quarterback Matt Jones&#39; biggest target, as evidenced by the connection the two established on a 75-yard touchdown pass in a scrimmage recently.<br> <br> ``You kind of have to fill the void,&#39;&#39; Harris said. ``Not necessarily step into their shoes, but fill the void and keep going.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Harris is an oddity on a team that has been categorized as young and inexperienced. In fact, compared to freshman receiver Marcus Monk and sophomore wideout Chris Baker, he is a relic. Already armed with a degree in computer information systems, Harris is married and a father of two children.<br> <br> ``He gets up, probably changes a diaper, and takes out the trash,&#39;&#39; Shibest said. ``His life has sped up on him. I really respect that. That&#39;s what I like to tell our other guys that just get up and go to practice.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> But this summer, when Harris woke up at 6:45 every morning to work out, he found himself alone for the first time.<br> <br> ``Usually I was with George (Wilson) or somebody,&#39;&#39; Harris said. ``I didn&#39;t know I was going to be the only receiver there.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> And while a lot has changed for Harris, some things have remained the same. As they have done every preseason during the Matt Jones era, Arkansas coaches have promised to open up the passing game.<br> <br> Last year, Arkansas only averaged 189.4 yards per game through the air. Whether that will increase in 2004 remains conjecture, but Harris hopes it does.<br> <br> He is part of a new group of receivers who may have more potential, despite having less game action than last year&#39;s corps. And after watching Arkansas become the most feared rushing team in the Southeastern Conference the last two years, the senior knows that they will have to exploit every opportunity that is thrown to them.<br> <br> ``We have to take advantage of every play that we get,&#39;&#39; he said. ``We&#39;ve got to catch every ball. We&#39;ve got to make sure we&#39;re open when the quarterback throws the ball. I think we will. If we do that, we can earn a big name in this program.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> For someone whose opportunities have been few and far between, Harris&#39; perseverance has been regarded highly by those closest to him.<br> <br> ``It&#39;s always great to see guys who have overcome obstacles,&#39;&#39; Shibest said. ``I think they want it more.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Harris does and he isn&#39;t shy about admitting as much.<br> <br> ``I&#39;ll do whatever it takes to win,&#39;&#39; he said. ``Whatever it takes.&#39;&#39;