By Staff
 ECU Sports Information
GREENVILLE — East Carolina record-setting receiver and 2010 Conference USA Most Valuable Player Dwayne Harris has been selected to participate in the Jan. 29 Under Armour Senior Bowl. He will suit up for the North Team, which is being led by Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis.
Harris, who was a first-team all-conference selection as a wide receiver and punt returner in 2010, set Pirate single-season records with 1,123 receiving yards and 101 receptions. He became one of only three ECU pass catchers to ever record over 1,000 receiving yards in a year and the only one with 90 or more grabs during a season. In his final campaign, Harris led C-USA in receptions per game (7.8) while standing third in receiving yards per game (86.4) and all-purpose yards per game (176.0), and fourth in punt return average (11.7). Among all 2010 FBS players, he ranked fourth in all-purpose yards per game and sixth in receptions per game. Harris also finished in the top 25 at the FBS level in total reception yards (15th), receiving yards per game (18th) and punt return yards per game (21st).
In the East Carolina career record books, Harris established program-best marks for receptions (268) and receiving yards (3,001) and is the only Pirate to ever surpass even the 2,000-yard milestone. He also ranks second on the program list in career touchdown catches with 20. In C-USA history, Harris stands fifth in career receptions and all-purpose yardage, seventh in kickoff returns and kickoff return yardage and 10th in receiving yards.
An all-around threat, the Stone Mountain, Ga., native owned East Carolina’s longest punt return (56 yards) and rush (49) last season while also contributing a 39-yard touchdown pass. He had a team second-best 48 receptions resulting in a first down and squad-high 20 grabs on third-down plays. Harris was also the Pirates’ offensive leader with 13 “big plays” (20+ yards), all receptions.
The Senior Bowl, and preparation for it, serves as a springboard to the National Football League as the event’s practices, which begin Monday, Jan. 24, are attended by over 800 general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and front office personnel from the 32 NFL teams. At the 2010 NFL Draft, 84 players off the Senior Bowl roster were selected, including 10 in the opening round.
East Carolina has sent four players to the prestigious January game in the last five years with Aundrae Allison (2007), Chris Johnson (2008), Matt Dodge (2010) and C.J. Wilson (2010) all representing the Pirates. In ECU history, 13 players have taken part in the event.
Kickoff for the Senior Bowl is set for 4:00 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The game will be nationally televised by the NFL Network, which will also cover each of the four practices leading up to the contest.