Nick Harris Overview
Position: Center/Guard
Height: 6’1
Weight: 302 lbs
School: Washington Huskies
Nick Harris 2020 NFL Draft Profile
Long-time Huskies interior offensive linemen Nick Harris will transition his reliability in the blocking game to the NFL. Harris played 50 games for the Huskies while starting in 42 of those performances. Harris came in the recruiting class of 2016 and played in a significant role later in the 2016 season. In the four starts of the 12 games in his freshmen year, Harris started at right guard in the Pac-12 Conference Championship game against the Colorado Buffaloes and in the Peach Bowl CFB Playoff Semi-Final loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Harris started at 13 games in his sophomore season at the right guard where he was named honorable mentioned All Pac-12.
Going into his junior season in 2018, Harris made the transition at the center position for the Huskies. This was the position that Harris was recruited to play for the Huskies when he arrived on campus. Harris played and started in 13 of the 14 games for the Huskies where he was named first-team All-Pac-12. In 2018, Harris played significant well in all areas of the game but mostly in the run and screen game. Harris gave up eight pressures in the passing game that season. Finally, in his senior season, Harris played and started at center in 12 of the 13 games where he was named first-team apart All-Pac-12. Harris was named second-team All-American selection by Sports Illustrated. He was one of the most consistent interior offensive linemen in the 2020 Senior Bowl practices and game.
Strengths
- Great first step movement after the ball is snapped;
- Gets to the second level of the defense efficiently;
- Possesses a high motor that makes him difficult to stop;
- Powerful and technically efficient hands to grip and lockdown defenders;
- Fast and smooth lateral movements in the passing, running, and RPO plays;
- Quick enough to move and make efficient reaches;
- Hard to push due to a low center of gravity;
- Can overpower a smaller scale defensive tackle;
- Can handle quick and nimble defensive linemen in the passing scheme.
Weaknesses
- Highly undersized to most defensive tackles in the NFL;
- Tends to not set his feet when connecting on a hit;
- Gets overpowered by powerful nose guards;
- Hesitates with the ball right before the snap, which creates false starts;
- Tends to grab too much when he gets overpowered;
- Doesn’t create much push at the point of impact;
- Plays too high during the pass protection;
- Will not be able to play guard efficiently in the NFL.
Comparisons: Rodney Hudson
Teams With Needs at Position: Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers
Projection: Third Round
Bottom Line on Nick Harris
Harris has much potential to be an efficient center in the NFL like he was in college. He is one of the most talented interior offensive linemen in the run blocking game. He is even stable enough to consistently block against speedy and high-motor defensive tackles in the NFL. Harris got better in his collegiate career including his senior season where he only allowed five pressures all season long. He looks to improve his performance in the league once he gets drafted and utilized to a team.
Some teams have needs in the interior offensive line that can be filled after round two. Some teams have a more specific need at the center position that can be fulfilled in the second round to the third round. Centers are usually selected higher than their projection in the NFL Draft. Harris could find himself as early as the mid-second round of the 2020 NFL Draft if there are teams that want to fulfill their center position need early.
Main photo:
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