Ron Turner and Antoenio Harris weren't in a good mood last weekend. Both lost football games.

So Harris' decision to join Turner's Illini bucked up the spirits of both and gave viewers an indication that Turner is moving in a positive way, even if he isn't winning any games.

Bolingbrook's Harris is the football equivalent of Manual's Frank Williams. He is a mature athlete at a key ball handling position and should attract others. A three-year starter, Harris gained 2,074 yards and scored 32 touchdowns as a junior, earning the designation from 20-year coach Phil Acton as "the best player I've coached" before adding another 1,500 yards this season.

Acton's statement is huge when you consider he has produced three of the last five News-Gazette Players of the Year – halfbacks Marcus Smith and Robert Farmer and QB Greg Williams.

"It's been tougher for us this year," Acton said. "Our line isn't as strong, and seven teams in our conference are 5-4 or better. We didn't play well in losing to Reavis Friday, although Antoenio had 135 yards rushing.

"Antoenio combines power and breakaway speed, and he's our best receiver in the backfield. He called me about his decision Saturday. I couldn't be more pleased. He's a good friend of Eric Garrett, who played tight end and linebacker for us. Now that Garrett is starting at fullback for Illinois, we could have two Bolingbrook products in the same backfield."

Few Illinois rushers at the UI

For most of three decades, the Illini have looked far and wide for high-profile rushers like 1989 recruits Steve Feagin (Florida) and Wagner Lester (Wisconsin). Not many Illinois All-Staters have been academically and athletically up to snuff. The few who stood out, like Bolingbrook's Farmer and Chicago Leo's Corey Rogers, found it fashionable to enroll elsewhere.

The last six Illini rushing leaders are Robert Holcombe (Arizona) in 1995-96-97, Ty Douthard (Ohio) in 1993-94 and Darren Boyer (Canada) in 1992. Before them, the top UI rushers were Chicago walk-ons Kameno Bell and Howard Griffith, who arrived on their own and worked their way up through special teams. Before Griffith, seven of the eight team leaders were St. Louisans Keith Jones, Thomas Rooks and Calvin Thomas.

Of 61 News-Gazette All-State running backs in the last 10 years, four attended the UI: Holcombe backup Steve Havard, now-departed junior reserve corner Terence Marable, former safety Ty Washington and fullback Marvell Scott, who transferred.

Among the players who competed for positions in August, the trio of Havard, fullback Elmer Hickman and ineligible Nehemiah Minor appear most likely to succeed Holcombe. But Jameel Cook, a stocky Floridian sitting out as a Prop 48, and Harris figure strongly in Turner's plans. Both Cook and Harris already are over 200 pounds and could allow Turner to use a split-back set that eventually will be a part of his offense.

Turner scouring the junior colleges

A former California junior college receiver, Turner is raking the JC ranks for help, particularly at his old position. Here are some of the speedsters he and his staffers have been evaluating:

– Jonathan Pittman, Long Beach City College ... Huntington Beach product is drawing intense Pac-10 interest with 39 catches for 762 yards and six TDs. UI also is aware of Sean Powell, 290-pound defensive lineman.

– George Ross, Garden City College (Kan.) ... 175-pound darter has 32 catches for 507 yards. This 8-1 team also boasts 205-pound Frank Murphy, a 1,061-yard rusher, and crack defensive backs Tyler Powell and Matt Lehning.

– Connie Moore, NW Mississippi College ... another 175-pounder with a reputed 40-yard time of 4.29 seconds, this Miami athlete leads his region with 42 receptions for 628 yards and six TDs.

– Terrance Smalls, Citrus College ... Short (5-7) Californian has 25 catches for 350 yards and doubles as a kick returner. Citrus teammate Nathan Villegas, who formerly attended San Diego State, is a promising punter-kicker.

– Robert Brown and Damien Groce, San Bernardino Valley ...Groce was a preseason All-American and both are heavily recruited from California's sixth-ranked team. Also drawing Pac-10 attention is cornerback Javon Daniels.

"I can't say much about JC recruiting other than we are receiving a surprisingly strong reception," Turner said. He hopes to land at least two receivers, two cornerbacks and a defensive lineman from the JC ranks.

Loren Tate writes for a weekly recruiting column for The News-Gazette.