Former Pasadena City College running back Jerome Harrison, who was the nation's second leading rusher in the NCAA Division I-A at Washington State University in 2005, signed a four-year playing contract with the Cleveland Browns this week. Harrison was drafted No. 145 overall and in the fifth round of the NFL 2006 Draft nearly three months ago.

At PCC in 2002-2003, Harrison made his mark as the only Lancer back to ever rush for two 1,000-plus yard seasons. He is the program's second all-time leading rusher behind Reggie Brown. Harrison led the team to a postseason appearance in the Potato Bowl in 2002.

He set several rushing records for Washington State and his accomplishments made him a 2005 Doak Walker Award finalist given to the nation's top running back (award went to USC's Reggie Bush). His 1,900 total rushing yards was only 60 yards shy of leading the nation.

Harrison, originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, rushed for a Cougars' record 16 touchdowns in 2005. He ranked second nationally in rushing yards per game and all-purpose yards per game. Harrison ran for at least 100 yards in a Pac-10 Conference record 14 consecutive games.

The 5-foot-9, 199-pound Harrison will attempt to become the first PCC running back since Darick Holmes in 1998 to play in a NFL regular season game. Holmes, a 1991 alumnus, played for the Buffalo Bills from 1995-97 and the Green Bay Packers in '98.

Running back Jonathan "McKenzi" Smith, PCC's record holder for scoring and rushing in a single season (2001), is also in NFL training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs, hoping to make the regular-season roster. Smith, signed as a free agent, was originally cut by the Chiefs last year at the conclusion of Kansas City's exhibition game schedule. He later joined the team's practice squad. Ironically, it was Harrison who followed Smith as the top running back at both PCC and Washington State.