COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State football will send to the 2020 NFL Draft one elite defensive line prospect and one elite secondary prospect.
Much as they did during the season, Chase Young and Jeff Okudah will dominate the conversation around the Buckeyes defense at April’s draft. Yet several other OSU alums will hear their names called over those three days, and some could also immediately step in and help NFL teams.
Malik Harrison could emerge as one of the draft’s best storylines. The local kid who came in as an unheralded prospect and blossomed into the Buckeyes’ leading tackler and, perhaps, a second-day draft pick? ESPN and NFL Network should love that.
Harrison helped himself with his play as a senior and earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl. If he follows up with more strong measurements at the NFL Scouting Combine, he’ll continue to rise up the list of available linebackers.
Previous draft breakdowns:
MALIK HARRISON
Position: Linebacker
Career highlights: The Columbus native came to Ohio State as a three-star prospect ranked outside the top 600 nationally. Harrison played quarterback and strong safety in high school and it appeared his versatility would be a major asset. Yet he eventually became the emphatic answer for the Buckeyes at weakside linebacker, developing into one of the Big Ten Conference’s best defensive players -- and arguably its most overlooked.
By his junior season he was a starter, sharing the team lead with 81 tackles After Harrison led the Buckeyes in tackles again as a senior with 75, league coaches voted him first team All-Big Ten.
Stats that matter: Harrison’s senior-year impact jumped, as demonstrated in his 16.5 tackles for loss. He made plays off the pass rush (4.5 sacks) and in coverage (four pass breakups). According to Pro Football Focus, Harrison led all Big Ten linebackers in passer rating allowed (62.4).
Strengths: Harrison’s best chance to contribute early in the NFL probably comes as a run stopper. He was a reliably physical tackler for the Buckeyes. He read plays well, rarely was caught out of position and held his ground when the action came downhill.
Weaknesses: Despite those numbers above, scouts see Harrison as merely adequate in coverage though not necessarily a liability.
What scouting sites are saying: Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network said Harrison may need to begin his career as an early down player, with room to grow into something more.
"Malik Harrison projects as a starting MIKE at the NFL level, although his impact in the passing game is going to be marginal compared to the value he brings against the run," Crabbs wrote. "A physical thumper in down hill situations and does a wonderful job stuffing up blocks and keying opportunities to stack/shed or shoot gaps and attack the mesh point."
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. lists Harrison sixth among inside linebackers on his big board.
Pro Football Focus' Michael Renner wrote: "He'll never be spectacular in coverage and is often protected in their scheme, but he'll come downhill and deliver the boom."
Teams with need at that position: Jacksonville, Detroit, Baltimore and Oakland/Las Vegas jump to top of teams seeking linebacker help this offseason. Crabbs’ mock draft has Harrison going No. 62 overall to the Packers.
Projected round: Second round, No. 60 to Baltimore.
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