Former NFL Scout Labels Anton Harrison Trent Williams 2.0

Two straight seasons of watching Oklahoma’s Anton Harrison dominate is exciting.

A total of six games evaluated and I’m nothing, but impressed with this left tackle (LT). Impressed enough to make the comparison to 49ers’ LT Trent Williams.

Harrison has earned his rightful spot on First Round Mock’s Big Board heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.

If you want to see how LT should be played, turn on Harrison’s 2022 game film against Nebraska and TCU (embedded below). It’s about as close to textbook as there is.

Harrison is a highly skilled technician who holds down the offensive line’s premium position with relative ease.

I’ve heard it said over and over again that Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski is LT1 in this draft class.

That’s a joke right?

Harrison in pass protection

This Oklahoma big man displays elite raw weight room power, athleticism and technique to put on a show, on the left side.

He’s got fast feet and even a short-area burst to recover. That’s the first time I’ve ever used the term “short-area burst,” when it comes to an offensive lineman.

He slides up and down the perimeter of the pocket with his lateral footwork like it’s a hobby.

Harrison comes equipped with a heavy anchor too. In other words, nobody is going through him like he’s a cape.

Did I say nobody?

That’s what I meant – – in college – – or in the NFL.

Welcome to the high stakes table in the NFL Draft Community known as First Round Mock, where game film trumps every other card on the table, and we don’t mince words.

Mean streak

Run blocking is where Harrison’s nastiness comes out even more.

It’s not uncommon to see him asking defenders if they would like some eggs to go along with his pancake blocks.

Harrison plays with an edge.

Don’t look down

If only Harrison didn’t lower his head once in a great while, when blocking in pass pro, he just might be the top player picked in this draft.

It’s his only glaring occasional weakness, that I saw it only a couple times against Kansas State. When he does this, he loses leverage and positioning towards the back door of the pocket and is susceptible to giving up pressure.

This also showed up on his 2021 game film in the article, “Anton Harrison Reminds Former NFL Scout of Trent Williams.”

That’s how I know it’s an issue his new team’s offensive line coach will need to focus on.

NFL’s crystal ball

Where or where will Harrison end up?

This is the ideal pick for the New York Jets at No. 13. New York has next to nothing in the cupboard at left tackle on the date this article was published.

Rumors suggest Titans’ LT Taylor Lewan will be moving on, and that would be the perfect landing spot for North Dakota’s LT Cody Mauch, which then drops Harrison right into the Jets’ offensive line.

#71 Anton Harrison 6-foot-5, 315 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Bust probability: Low

Projected by: 37.1% (up from 16.2% on October 14) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of February 8, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: Nebraska, TCU, and Kansas State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2021: he played in 13 games and a total of 671 snaps. He conceded 14 QB hurries, one QB hit, and 2 sacks (nfldraftbuzz.com)

2022: 12 games and totaled 862 snaps. He gave up just 8 QB hurries, allowed no QB hits, and just one sack

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Nimble, active with long arms and equally distributed power. Fluid kick out and nice balanced wide base set up along the wall of the pocket perimeter in pass pro. Showed good recovery speed as well. High level hand and foot work. Can handle quick athletic pass rushing moves (spins, etc). Responded is fast manner to stunts and blitzes. On runs, seals lanes and moves around to the second level and even further downfield with ease. Shows off athletic ability when he cuts off and shields defenders inside. Able to make blocks at the first and second level on the same run. A few one off’s, but no glaring negative tendencies in this department. Looks and plays smart. Blocks like he means it every snap.

Final words

Send the card in, run, don’t walk.

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.