Jan. 27, 2010

By Jason Clay
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University announced Monday that running back Shariff Harris and defensive back T.J. Shine have transferred to SIU to join the football program and are enrolled in spring classes.

Harris, a 6-1, 215-pound running back out of Newark, N.J., spent the past three seasons at the University of Pittsburgh. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2007 and will have two years of eligibility with the Salukis.

As a senior at St. Peter's Prep in 2006, Harris rushed for 1,410 yards and 17 touchdowns to earn third team all-state honors from the Associated Press. Scout.com ranked him as one of the Top 10 overall prospects in the state. In his two playing seasons at Pitt, he played in 21 games and registered 16 yards rushing on 16 carries, as he primarily played on special teams.

Shine, a 5-9, 180-pound defensive back, played two seasons at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan. and helped the Grizzlies win the 2008 NJCAA National Championship.

He comes from the winningest NJCAA program since 1998 and Butler posted a 19-4 record in Shine's two seasons in El Dorado. In 2009, Shine recorded 39 tackles, broke up four passes and forced one fumble.

Shine graduated from Wichita's Northwest High School where he was named to the Greater Wichita Athletic Conference second team as a safety in 2007.