Just 'Kellen' time

When fans think about Marshall spring football, they think of guys like Lee Smith and Mario Harvey, who will play quarterback or who is making headlines off the field.

But when you ask head coach Doc Holliday, he looks at the middle linebacker position and someone the fans have yet to catch up on.

"I love Kellen Harris," Holliday said. "You talk about someone who's done everything right on and off the field. He's been a leader for us. He hasn't missed a workout, hasn't missed a class, hasn't missed a tutor. He's just a great guy and a guy like him is what this program is built on."

At middle linebacker, Harris is not only in charge of relaying plays to the rest of the defense, but many see him as the leader.

But with such high praise from his coach, he isn't letting his ego grow, just his work effort.

"There's always room for improvement," Harris said. "Going into the season, nothing is as good as it seems and nothing is as bad as it seems.  We just got to get better."

Harris started all 13 games last year and recorded 71 tackles, six for loss and forced a pair of fumbles.

But what is more impressive about the Sharon, Pa., native is his ability to step up to be a leader the middle linebacker position requires.

Harris had to replace two-year starter Maurice Kitchens last year and did a great job doing it, said teammate Mario Harvey.

"Last year, he had some big shoes to fill," Harvey said. "He stepped up to the plate and did a good job. He's just got to keep growing in the leadership role he's got and keep playing hard and moving forward."

As Harris continues to grow on the field, he has to be able to help the entire defense grow as well.

Holliday said with him in the middle linebacker position, Harris has to step up into the faces of his teammates and get the job done.

"You're going to have some adversity at some point during the game," Holliday said. "They (middle linebackers) got to be able to grab them by the throat and make sure they step up and do what we have to do to win the football game."

But when the question was raised to Harris about being a leader on the field, he was more than ready to step up to the plate and step onto the field.

"I love being a leader on the field," Harris said. "I'm embracing it right now and doing the best I can. I'm just going to keep pushing these guys so they can do the best they can."

During spring practice, fans can view the progress he has made with the leadership position.

Under Chris Rippon's defense, the linebackers are more active and more focused on getting to the ball. And the first one usually at the ball is No. 35.

"A lot of things we're doing now is that he's letting us play," Harris said. "There is a lot less thinking and a lot more just playing ball."

With Harris entering his junior season, many see a bright future for the former Pennsylvania high school wrestling champion.

And one fan he has earned high praise from is Holliday, who sees a future face of Marshall.

"He's a guy who is going to be the face of Marshall football one day, like a Chad Pennington," Holliday said. "I'm not talking as a player, but as a person and what he brings to the team as a leader and how he does everything right."

But for Harris, while admiration is nice, he is just looking to keep his team in the right direction.

"I appreciate him feeling that way about me, I want everyone to feel that way about me," Harris said. "I'm just trying to keep everything positive for everybody else on the team and keep moving forward."

Kyle Hobstetter can be contacted at Hobstetter@marshall.edu