Overview
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 247 pounds
School: Ohio State Buckeyes
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.66 seconds
Vertical jump: 36 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, 2 inches
Three-cone drill: 6.83 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.32 seconds
Malik Harrison 2020 NFL Draft Profile
A top-50 athlete recruit in the 2016 class per Rivals.com, Malik Harrison actually starred at quarterback for three years at Walnut Ridge High School in Columbus. But he showcased immense versatility as well, playing multiple positions on both sides of the football, and even punting on special teams. The interest from top college programs was certainly there as he received eight scholarship offers from Power Five schools, including Ohio State. It went down to the wire but he eventually stayed close to home, committing to the Buckeyes on National Signing Day.
Harrison would move to linebacker for OSU. He made a somewhat immediate impact, making appearances in 12 games as a true freshman even though he didn’t start any. His first start came against Michigan State during his sophomore season and he acquitted himself well in the 48-3 win, tallying six tackles as well as a sack and tackle for loss. He began truly making his presence felt as a junior, though. That year, he registered 81 tackles which were tied for the team lead, 8.5 of which were for a loss (fourth-best on the team), and also tallied two sacks.
His final season in Scarlet and Gray saw him emerge into one of the Big Ten’s top defensive playmakers. His 16.5 tackles for loss were fifth-best in the league and second-best on the team behind presumptive top-five pick Chase Young. For such prodigious effort, he garnered first-team All-Big Ten recognition and was also named an AP third-team All-American.
Strengths
- a well-built frame which should hold up well against NFL-level physicality;
- comes downhill with authority which enables him to break up plays behind the line of scrimmage;
- can jam receivers at the line of scrimmage like a press corner;
- holds own against bigger linemen blocking in the second level;
- impressive ability to move laterally;
- doesn’t stay glued to blockers but rather sheds to the outside in search of ball-carrier;
- plus awareness defending the pass;
- will make for a consistent contributor on special teams;
- immensely versatile given high school experience and having played multiple linebacking positions in college.
Weaknesses
- anticipatory instincts with respect to how the play develops is a tad limited;
- too quick to pursue to the edge, leaving inside gaps in the second level;
- somewhat limited as a coverage linebacker – could be a liability in man;
- consistently takes the bait with respect to play-action;
- a bit inconsistent in contain when the play breaks to the outside;
- might be limited scheme-wise to teams that run a 4-3.
NFL Comparison: Vince Biegel
Teams With Need at Position: Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins
Projection: late second to early third round
Bottom Line
A player with four years of game experience at one of college football’s most prolific NFL factories in recent years, Harrison consistently showed up in opposing backfields. That much is certain given his 29 career tackles for loss. He approaches ball-carriers in a physical, downhill manner and boasts an impressive ability to shift laterally. He’s also adept at dropping into coverage and using plus awareness to get his hands into the air and break up passes. He did intercept just a single pass during his college career. But there’s every indication that he can be that kind of playmaker.
Among the concerns impeding Harrison’s value at the next level is his instincts, which aren’t the most elite among this year’s group of linebackers. He consistently takes bad angles to the ball-carrier and needs to recognize plays destined for the inside on a more consistent basis. And though he’s versatile in terms of his ability to play both inside and outside, his best match is likely at 4-3 outside linebacker. All in all, Harrison should be able to immediately contribute in a limited capacity right off the bat. And it shouldn’t be long before he becomes a consistent starter in the pros.
