Harris named national punt returner of the week

By Oregon Media Services Published: Nov 14, 2010 at 5:24 PM PDT Last Updated: Nov 15, 2010 at 12:44 AM PDT
Harris named national punt returner of the week »Play Video
Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris (13) is tackled by California cornerback C.J. Moncrease 98) in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

EUGENE, Ore. – University of Oregon sophomore Cliff Harris has been named the national punt returner performer of the week by the College Football Performance Awards for Week 11.

Harris, a true sophomore from Fresno, Calif., scored what turned out to be the deciding touchdown in the Ducks’ 15-13 win at California on Saturday, returning a 3rd-quarter punt 64 yards.

A midseason All-America according to SI.com at both cornerback (1st team) and punt returner (2nd team), Harris extended his school record and tied the Pac-10 single-season mark for touchdowns on punt returns with his fourth of the year.

Harris, a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, leads the nation in punt return average (23.21) and touchdowns, and on defense he ranks third in the NCAA with 1.50 passes defended per game. The Pac-10 leader in interceptions with five – tied for tenth nationally with an average of 0.50 per game – also has a “pick-6” on the season to give him five total touchdowns.

The No. 1 Ducks (10-0, 7-0 Pac-10) are on a bye week and next play Friday, Nov. 26, when they host Arizona (7-3, 4-3) at Autzen Stadium. Kickoff is 4 p.m. PT with a live telecast on ESPN.