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Humbled And Hungry, Ohio State's Zach Harrison Is Ready For NFL

Zach Harrison could be one of the biggest risers in the NFL draft class with a strong combine.

Cole Thompson

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Why draft Zach Harrison? It's a valid question, to say the least. 

Harrison, the four-year defensive end at Ohio State, who made headlines for his bull-rushing ability off the edge, doesn't have the same numbers as Alabama's Will Anderson or Notre Dame's Isaiah Foskey. His frame might limit him to only one style of defense at the next level. Or maybe the depth of pass-rushers pushes him down, multiple big boards. 

But why draft Harrison? Maybe it's because the best has yet to come. At least that's how he's approaching the next chapter of life before the NFL Scouting Combine Thursday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium. 

 “I'm so excited about the player that I am today, and knowing that I have so much to work on and being in this position where I’m at right now, just being at the combine and being one of the top guys of the defensive line class, and knowing I have so much room to improve," Harrison said Wednesday during media sessions. "And I hope that I get to tap into that.”

Harrison will have the chance to boost his draft stock with a breakout performance Thursday during defensive line drills. The former five-star is currently projected to be a mid-Day 2 selection, though his numbers could inch him closer to the top of Round 2 or even late into Round 1 chatter. 

Harrison isn't worried about when he is selected, nor does he have an ideal location on where he would like to be drafted. His top priority is putting on the best performance possible on the biggest stage for anyone looking to hear their name called during the three-day draft event. 

The one area he hopes to impress scouts? Speed. That comes in the form of a blazing 40-time and a quick jump shooting out of the box. 

“I just want to run as fast as I can,” Harrison said.

While some teams prioritize production, others hone in on technique. The latter is where Harrison falls after a minimal start to his Ohio State career. Harrison only registered 3.5 sacks as a freshman. Two years later, that number only climbed to 7.5. 

For his career, Harrison only totaled 11.5 sacks, two of which came in Week 12 against Maryland. Anderson, the projected top defensive prospect in the class, recorded 10 this past season and 34.5 total during his three years in Tuscaloosa.

“Obviously, you want to have double-digit sack seasons and things like that, but you've got to realize there are other ways to affect the game, and I feel that I did that well,” Harrison said.

Harrison tends to look at the positives of his career. The biggest? Being named a captain as a junior. Players vote on the captains rather than coaches handing out accolades to those they think deserve it. 

It's something that he'll hold dear in his heart for the remainder of his career. 

"I'm really honored to be able to do that," said Harrison. "Just all my time at Ohio State, I loved every second of it, the whole journey.”

The pre-draft process isn't new for Harrison. Last season, he contemplated leaving early after Ohio State's Rose Bowl win over Utah, but the timing wasn't right. Something told him to return for another year and hone in on his craft, primarily as a pass-rusher. 

“I realized, 'OK, this is how I have to take care of my body. This is how I've got to watch film. This is how I've got to hydrate,'” Harrison said. “All the little things that you might not see or you might not think of as important, but these are all crucial to me being the best player. I have those skills now.”

Is Harrison ready? For the most part, yes. Then again, after four seasons of playing in his own backyard, the timing felt right. 

Big changes are coming for the Harrison family in the future. In three weeks, he'll get one more chance to impress scouts at Ohio State's Pro Day. In two months, he'll likely pick up the phone with a general manager on the other end telling him they just turned in a draft card with his name on it. 

And after that? A new city to call his own. Outside of family vacations, Columbus is the only place Harrison has called home. Even when countless offers from across the country came piling in, the only place he wanted to suit up was miles away from his house. 

Why draft Harrison? There are plenty of reasons to like a 6-6, 272-pound defender that could move like a linebacker running full speed into the backfield. 

His reason? Teams only saw a taste of his potential. The next place he lands will see the whole picture. 

"Guys are gonna gravitate toward me just because of my hard work and my personality. And then when we’re on the field, a guy that’s gonna make plays, like TFLs, and change the game.”

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Cole Thompson
COLE THOMPSON

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