At this time a year ago, Chris Harris was adjusting to a diminished role on Kansas’ defense.

After losing his starting cornerback role after seven games last season, Kansas junior Chris Harris, right, has emerged as one of the Jayhawks' defensive leaders by getting back to what made him so successful early in his career. (AP)

Now he’s back to being a key cog in the Jayhawks’ secondary.

Harris, who as a freshman two years ago was named Big 12 Conference Defensive Newcomer of the Year by The Associated Press, was removed from his starting cornerback role after seven games last season. He spent the rest of 2008 at nickelback, playing almost exclusively in passing situations.

“I guess I wasn’t playing to the best of my ability,” he said.

This year, however, Harris has gotten a chance to redeem himself. And the 6-foot, 189-pound junior from Oklahoma is taking advantage.

He’s back at cornerback, starting all seven of the Jayhawks’ games, and he’s emerged as one of their defensive leaders. Harris has a team-high six breakups, matching his total from the previous two seasons, and his 50 tackles rank third on the squad.

“I’m loving it this year,” he said, “being able to be out there starting and knowing the whole year of work paid off.”

Harris, who finished last season with 59 tackles but only two pass breakups, referred to the demotion as a “wakeup call.” But he also said it was an obstacle he knew he could overcome.

Harris worked to improve his coverage skills and his speed. He said he’s lowered his 40-yard dash time from 4.6 to 4.4 in the last year and he also got back to what made him so successful early in his career, applying more press coverage against receivers.

Now Harris, who has at least five tackles in every game this season, is seeing the results.

“We put him back at corner, and he’s held up his own,” Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. “He’s a competitive young guy, he’s fearless, he plays his tail off every play, and he’s doing a good job for us over there.”

Harris, along with senior strong safety Darrell Stuckey, also is helping the Jayhawks’ secondary work through another lineup shuffle. Redshirt freshman Lubbock Smith has started the last two games at free safety, and true freshman D.J. Beshears, who made his collegiate debut two weeks ago against Colorado, started at the other cornerback spot in last week’s loss to Oklahoma.

“Me and Darrell are pretty much helping them out,” Harris said. “If one of them asks a question, we’re right there to answer them. We’re just keeping them ready at halftime and stuff, letting them know what (the opponent) might come out and do.”

Harris

Mangino said he’s been pleased with the youngsters’ contributions, even though Kansas has allowed 69 points in two straight losses, and he also said the Jayhawks’ secondary play has improved over the course of the season. But he’s not at all satisfied with a pass defense that ranks 10th in the Big 12.

Neither is Harris, who said he’s looking forward to facing another prolific passing attack on Saturday. Texas Tech, which hosts the Jayhawks, leads the nation with 28 touchdowns and nearly 419 yards per game through the air.

“That should be fun,” Harris said. “I feel we still haven’t played our best yet as a whole secondary.”