Coming out of Alabama and being instructed by Nick Saban, it should come as no surprise that scouts are drooling over Ronnie Harrison as we approach the 2018 NFL Draft.
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Harrison is capable of playing at the last-line-of defense at safety, or matching up with a wide receiver and working out at cornerback.
With the Crimson Tide, Harrison did both, but his future might be at safety where defensive coordinators can allow him to roam freely and strike like a snake.
After playing quarterback and safety in high school at Florida State University School right in the heart of Seminole country, Harrison departed for Alabama. He played in all 15 games as a freshman with the Crimson Tide, helping them capture a national title.
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In 2016, Harrison started every game as Alabama reached another national title game. This past season, he was named to the all-SEC second team after tying for the team lead with 74 tackles, 4.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Harrison also picked off three passes and broke up another four.
For his three-year career with the Crimson Tide, Harrison made 174 tackles, 110 being solo stops, seven for loss, 3.5 sacks, seven interceptions and 17 passes defended. He also forced a pair of fumbles and scored two defensive touchdowns.
Strengths
At 6-foot-3 and 214 pounds, Harrison has the body size to match up with big receivers and tight ends, tackle bulldozing running backs, and holds enough speed to keep up with quick players on the gridiron. Instead of thinking too much on the field, Harrison reacts on the fly and can adjust what he’s doing at the snap of a ball. His size allows him to knock down passes coming over the middle or when quarterbacks go deep. One key area that defensive coaches are sure to exploit with Harrison is his ability to blitz and get after the quarterback or clog lanes and stop running backs.
Weaknesses
As with anyone trying to make a game-changing play, Harrison would lose position on the field when matched up with speed receivers or backs. He had a tendency to want to do more than he needed to make the simple tackle in an attempt to pick off a pass or force a fumble. A trend developing from those big-strike safeties is to lead with the head, which can result in flags being called. Harrison has a penchant for doing just that, which will need to be corrected in the NFL. His skills in covering complex routes also needs improvement, but that can be corrected with proper coaching.
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Draft expectations
Harrison might fall on draft weekend just because there is such a love-interest in adding offensive skill position players at the moment in the league. He has all the viable tools needed to succeed, but he did put up a few red flags in observations that left some wanting more information and wondering just how he’ll pan out in the NFL. One benefit he had going for him at Alabama was playing next to several other future NFLers, which might have covered for those areas of concern. Still, Harrison should hear his name called sooner rather than later.
Projection: Late first/early second round selection