Harrison keeps head up

As the leading returning Big East receiver in touchdown catches and yards per reception, it would be understandable for Mark Harrison to show some frustration.

After a breakout sophomore season, the Rutgers football team’s junior wideout has only three receptions for 54 yards, compared to two clear drops — one for a sure touchdown.

With the Big East season starting Saturday, Harrison thinks it is for the best.

“I’m actually happy that it’s happened to me because I never thought it could,” he said. “After the season I had last year, I thought I was invincible. Now it’s a humbling experience to see that I’m only human. I can really focus on the little things.”

He did not record a catch as a true freshman until Rutgers’ seventh game, and he started last season quietly until a 100-yard receiving game against Connecticut.

Then he caught a touchdown pass in six of the Scarlet Knights’ final eight games.

“It’s common to put pressure on yourself,” Harrison said. “You expect to do what you did last year, but you really can’t look at it that way. You have to look at it as a new season.”

Harrison remains an integral part of the offense this season despite a significantly deeper wide receiver corps.

He took over as a starter last year after Tim Wright tore his ACL during training camp, and he became the top target when Mohamed Sanu began struggling with injuries. Along with Sanu, Wright and redshirt freshman Brandon Coleman, Harrison is now one of four wideouts that receive regular time.

Harrison dropped a pass against Ohio, spoke to head coach Greg Schiano on the sideline, then had his number called again and converted a third down.

“It’s really just focusing and locking in,” Harrison said. “I’m doing the easy part, getting open. I just have to finish the play.”

The Knights could receive a boost to their depth at defensive end, but Schiano is unsure of when.

Sophomore Jamil Merrell started to practice, but Schiano does not think he will return to practice this week. Junior Marvin Booker suffered an undisclosed injury days before the season opener and started the game but did not played since.

Schiano said he wanted to see yesterday’s practice tape to get a better idea of how the Piscataway High School product is responding.

“Every time he’s tried to go, he’s been set back,” Schiano said. “He wants to play, so it’s hard to hold him back. It just hasn’t gotten better, so I don’t know.”

Syracuse sacked   Rutgers a combined 13 times in the teams’ past two meetings, with nine occurring in the Knights’ last trip to the Carrier Dome.

But Rutgers allowed only five sacks through this season’s first three games, and Schiano believes it is due to a number of factors.

“Our goal was that schematically we’re going to help [the offensive line],” Schiano said. “We’re going to get rid of the ball more quickly, and I think we’re going to be a year older, a year stronger. Plus we’re playing with some different guys, too.”

Schiano was aware of Syracuse running back Antwon Bailey last season, but he was only a 5-foot-6 change of pace then, not the featured back.

“He’s a concern,” Schiano said. “He’s got a unique ability. He’s small. He hides behind a mammoth offensive line, and then he just pops and has great ability to go from standing still to full speed, unique in that way. Not 4.3 speed, but he can pop it.”