Kenneth Harris found the end zone on the very first play of his career, but highlights have been hard to come by since. Kris Durham still is looking for his first signature moment.

But both wide receivers should get plenty of chances to make their marks on the Georgia football team in the fall. If the season started today, each would find himself in the starting lineup.

“I had the opportunities to make big plays last year,” said Harris, a fifth-year senior who recorded a career-low four receptions in 2007. “They were there, and I just didn’t make them. I had a couple big years before that, but last year was a struggle. It was good that it happened, I guess, because I came into this year a whole lot more focused. So I look at last year, and I don’t want that to happen again.”

Since scoring the aforementioned touchdown in the 2005 season opener, Harris admits his career has been marked by inconsistency. After finishing fourth on the team in catches as a sophomore in 2006, he plummeted down to eleventh last season.

It’s amazing what a few weeks of spring practice can do.

“He’s playing with a confident attitude, playing like he belongs, and he’s come out this spring and accepted the role of a senior,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “And it’s about time. We put him up there and said you’re a starter day one, and he has responded this spring.”

Durham, a 6-foot-5-inch junior, looks to become a major cog in the Bulldog offense for the first time in his career.

“I’ve worked really hard and gained a lot of confidence back,” said Durham, who gave his best performance to date in Georgia’s last game – three catches for 48 yards in the Sugar Bowl against Hawai’i in January.

“I guess I’ve gained a little swagger back, and it’s just helped me perform.”

Part of that swagger stems from Durham’s improved ability to fight through physical coverage from the defense, as Bobo and head coach Mark Richt repeatedly have praised him for becoming “more physical” this spring.

“It’s night and day,” Durham said, assessing his progress over two-plus years. “When I first came in, I was getting thrown around and pushed around, but I’ve gotten stronger, and that’s helped me out.”

“Him catching the ball has never been an issue,” junior quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “It’s just him being able to get off press coverage and make some plays. He can go up and get it.”

Durham showed that ability in last year’s spring game, in which he caught six passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

He’ll get his chance to do it again Saturday in the G-Day game, while Harris’ chance remains questionable because of an ankle injury.