When his good friend Tyrell Dortch moved from running back to defense in the off-season, senior safety Jason Harmon knew he had to help - whether Dortch liked it or not.
"After workouts, he'd have me in the indoor field backpedalling, doing hip drills and stuff like that," said Dortch, who will start at the bandit position Saturday against Rutgers. The bandit position is a mix between linebacker and defensive back.
"I didn't really want to do it," Dortch said. "Coming from a running back, you know you're running forward all the time. He had me out there backpedalling and doing all these crazy drills. He actually forced me to do it."
Among his teammates, Harmon has a reputation as an enthusiastic, personable guy. Harmon's character is one reason why he was named one of MSU's four captains this season.
Seeing Dortch's attitude improve made spending extra time with him easier, Harmon said.
"It's cool to see him back? enthusiastic about football again because for a while, he was thinking about giving it up," Harmon said. "It's good to see him back out there. We're focused right now."
But then again, focus has never been a problem for Harmon. The Ironton, Ohio native was one of MSU's most consistent defenders in 2003.
He led the team with 108 tackles while playing both safety positions. His production led the Big Ten coaches and media to select Harmon for Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 2003.
Harmon's consistency and versatility was especially valuable late last season, when Eric Smith, who was playing well at strong safety, missed the last four games with a knee injury.
After starting the first nine games at free safety, Harmon made a smooth transition to Smith's strong safety spot for those four games.
"Both of the safeties are kind of interchangeable," he said. "The main difference is the strong safety has to get a little more physical and not guard receivers that much."
This Saturday at Rutgers, Harmon again will play strong safety instead of Smith, who is still regaining strength in his knee. The familiarity of the situation will no doubt boost his confidence, Harmon said.
"This year it's really not going to be a big challenge, me going out and playing strong safety," he said. "I feel like a strong safety right now because I've been doing that for a while."
Harmon said he's practiced at strong safety for about 80 percent of training camp, mainly because Smith hasn't been able to practice much. Sophomore Greg Cooper will play free safety.
Harmon said Cooper has made good progress this off-season and is ready to start on Saturday. Helping younger players, such as Cooper and sophomore defensive end Clifton Ryan, and veteran players, such as Dortch who is making a position transition, is part of Harmon's role as captain.
But it's also his nature.
"I really look up to Jason a lot. I met Jason back in high school, he's never changed," Ryan said. "He's a very positive guy, a hard-working guy. That's why he's a captain."
