Ronnie Harrison Jr. Signs a One-Year Deal with the Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have signed a former Crimson Tide safety, who was known for laying hard hits during his time in college.

The Indianapolis Colts have added some help to their secondary, signing safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. to a one-year deal. Harrison was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars during the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He's played five seasons in the NFL, his first two in Jacksonville, his next three in Cleveland, where he has totaled 223 tackles, five-and-a-half sacks, two fumble recoveries, five picks, 23 passes defended, and one non-offensive touchdown when he had a pick-six for the Cleveland Browns during the 2020 NFL season. 

The Crimson Tide defense during the 2016 season was unlike any other defense seen in the modern era. That defense scored eight times on opponents turnovers, with Harrison taking two of them to the house: a fumble return during homecoming against Kentucky and a pick-six on a screen pass at Tennessee. 

Harrison stayed at Alabama for one more season after that before declaring for the 2018 NFL draft. During his three-year college career, Harrison had 174 tackles, 11 passes defended, three-and-a-half sacks, one forced fumble, seven picks, and two defensive touchdowns. 

Harrison joins a young and banged-up safety room. One of the starting safeties for the Colts, Rodney Thomas II, is not practicing due to a toe injury. His backup was a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft: Nick Cross, who played in 16 games for the Colts in 2022 but totaled just 17 tackles and one fumble recovery. Both safeties play the "strong safety" position for Indianapolis, the same position Harrison plays. Harrison could provide vital depth and experience in a young safety room while Thomas recovers from a toe injury, and he may even compete for a starting job for the Colts. 

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