Oregon's Cliff Harris is forgiven for his swagger

Yes, Oregon cornerback and punt returner Cliff Harris is brash. Just ask him, and he responds with a smile and a cocky ''So what?''

Harris, only a sophomore but already taking a cue from personalities like Chad Ochocinco in moxie, wants the top-ranked Ducks to be feared for more than their gaudy offense.

So he talks it up. But the key, said teammate and admirer LaMichael James, is that Harris backs up his bravado with talent.

''He has a lot of swagger. That's what I would call it,'' said James, Oregon's prolific running back. ''He has no fear of failure. That is a big key. He takes gambles and most of the time they pay off for him. I mean, he makes a lot of plays for us.''

Harris' reputation is well-deserved. When he first arrived at Oregon and stood up to introduce himself to the team, he said: ''My name is Cliff Harris and I'm here to lock (stuff) down.'' Of course he didn't exactly use the word ''stuff.''

The quote so amused Ducks fans that a Facebook page was created in its honor.

Injuries on the defensive secondary forced Harris to come out of a redshirt year last season. In just eight games, he led the team with eight pass breakups. In the Rose Bowl against Ohio State, Harris turned heads with a 42-yard kickoff return.

This season the dreadlocked defensive star from Fresno, Calif., leads the nation with 14 passes defensed, as well as his three punt returns for touchdowns. He averages 21.7 yards per return, third-best in the country.

Harris, who has started at cornerback the last three games with Anthony Gildon sidelined by an ankle injury, leads the Pac-10 with five interceptions, one returned for a touchdown.

''Some people might take my confidence for cockiness, but so what?'' Harris said. ''I'm just here to play football. That's all there is to it.''

If there's any criticism of the 5-11, 180-pound defensive back, it's that maybe he needs to tone it down a bit in coach Chip Kelly's team-first system. Defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti often used the word ''conform'' earlier this season in describing what traits Harris needs to acquire.

As far as his teammates are concerned, Harris' swagger is forgivable.

''It's always good to have a guy who knows what he can do on the field,'' Oregon defensive end Kenny Rowe said. ''All that cockiness, he knows he can play at a certain level and he performs to that level.''

Harris' enthusiasm is rubbing off on true freshman Josh Huff, who returns kickoffs for the Ducks. Huff had three returns for 132 yards in Oregon's 53-16 victory over Washington last weekend, after gaining 202 all-purpose yards against USC the week before.

Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian said that at least in his team's case, so many players had to be rotated in and out on offense and defense to keep up with the Ducks, that it left Washington thin on some returns, especially in the second half.

''They just killed us with their special teams and the kick return game,'' Sarkisian said.

Harris hurt the Huskies with six total returns for 179 yards.

The sophomore made a splash in Oregon's season-opening win against New Mexico, returning two punts for touchdowns, then he ran an interception back 76 yards for a score in the victory over Tennessee.

The Ducks (9-0, 6-0 Pac-10) visit California (5-4, 3-3) on Saturday.

''I always try to make the plays that I feel are going to help us win,'' Harris said. ''And if I make them once, I try to make them again. That's the mentality I take.''

As for his season so far, Harris is straightforward when it comes to his assessment.

''Tremendous fun,'' he smiled.