Ohio State’s Zach Harrison Has a Knack For Creating Pressure

NFL teams will be looking at Ohio State edge rusher Zach Harrison, because there is a premium placed on defenders who can generate pressure.

While Harrison is not an elite pass-rusher heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, he has what it takes to go within the first three-rounds.

Due to his limitations, I see Harrison as a prospect who will generate more pressure than raw sack numbers in the NFL.

That hasn’t stopped Sports Illustrated

The only draft platform out there that put a first-round grade on Harrison is Sports Illustrated.

Other than that, Harrison has flown under the radar in the eyes of NFL Draft media.

In January 2022, Pro Football Focus (pff.com) did rank Harrison as a top-10 (No. 7) returning edge rusher for this season.

In their evaluation, they wrote he has earned a 90.5 pass-rush grade and a 19.4% win rate.

“While the 2019 five-star recruit has the physical tools, the consistency is sorely lacking. He recorded zero pressures in two of his final four games and produced just two or fewer pressures in 11 of his 19 career games,” according to pff.com.

What is Harrison missing?

The big thing he lacks is motor.

Harrison does flash ability, but he is downright soft looking too often at the point of attack.

There are too many times he lacks fight on game film.

The effort is just not there to warrant a higher grade.

Harrison also lacks the pure speed to win the edge often enough, and the athletic ability to make elite level quick adjustments in the pocket.

Soft run contain edge

In terms of being a three-down defender, this was my big concern.

Most of the time he showed little to no fight against the run and seemed content just hanging out dancing around with the offensive tackles.

Granted, he had outside contain much of the time, but he seemed at peace with not having much to do with the run.

He can do it if he wants to, and showed he is a physical wrapping form tackler, he just doesn’t have much interest.

This will render him eventually to more of a pass-rushing role player at the next level.

#9 Zach Harrison 6-foot-6, 272 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Grade: Third-Round – Fall 2022 Report

2021 game film reviewed: Penn State, Purdue and Oregon (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 33 tackles (22 solo, 11 assists), 3.0 sacks, 4 passes defended

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report:

Brute strong pass rusher with good size and long arms, but lacks motor. Sometimes a tad slow off the snap and is does not have quick twitch explosiveness at the point of attack. Can bull rush with authority. No frills opportunistic pass rusher who relies on raw strength. Gets hung out to dry on the perimeter way too often. Often stalemated against blockers inside. Runs a lot of stunts and looks to penetrate the pocket unblocked to create pressure. Done against double teams. Too soft looking too often. Excellent covering screens to backs out of the backfield. Dropped into coverage a couple times. Often uninvolved against the run, but he is a solid tough wrapping tackler inside when he sets his mind to it. Did show discipline outside. Good value in the right round, but not really a player who moves the meter overall.

What to watch for during the 2022 college football season:

1. Final pressure/sack numbers?
2. Does he show any pass rush moves?
3. Consistency pass rushing off the edge?
4. How many run tackles does he post?

While Harrison has some pass-rushing upside, he would not be on my draft board.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.