Ohio State’s Zach Harrison is on track for the NFL, just like he has always been

INDIANAPOLIS — Let’s hear it for regular. Let’s hear it for good. Let’s hear it for regular and reliable and no surprises. Let’s hear it for a participant like Ohio State defensive finish Zach Harrison and a four-year school profession like his.

On a Wednesday when defensive linemen spoke on the NFL mix and possibly the perfect amongst them, Jalen Carter, had his interview session canceled as a result of he was headed again to Georgia to face an arrest warrant, Harrison did what he at all times does.

He stayed on observe.

Harrison might have gone by means of this NFL course of a yr in the past, however he stayed at Ohio State for a fourth and remaining yr, as a result of he determined that was finest. Now, Harrison is as prepared as he may very well be, which once more, is type of what he does.

“Junior yr, I wasn’t essentially able to be a professional but,” Harrison mentioned. “After this final yr at Ohio State, realizing that is how I gotta handle my physique, that is how I gotta watch movie, that is how I gotta hydrate, all of the little issues that you just may not assume are that necessary. Now I’m like, ‘OK, these are all essential to me being the perfect participant.’ I’ve these expertise now, and I’m able to switch that to the NFL.”

Beneficial Buckeyes tales

Harrison performed 1,678 snaps in school based on the monitoring information from PFF.com. That’s loads of soccer. Ranked by draft analysts as in regards to the fourth- to eighth-best defensive finish within the draft, Harrison doesn’t have a lot to cover, or to indicate. It’s all on the market, 4 years of manufacturing from 2019 to 2022.

“I really feel like groups have a fairly good grasp of the type of participant I’m,” Harrison mentioned. “In addition they know there’s much more that I might have reached, and loads of groups have instructed me they’re enthusiastic about my potential and the opportunity of what I might do on their staff sooner or later.”

Harrison completed his OSU profession with 13 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss. That’s in a profession, when the single-season staff data for each stats are increased — Chase Younger’s 16.5 sacks and Mike Vrabel’s 26 tackles for loss.

“I don’t have Chase Younger numbers,” Harrison mentioned. “However I positively have an effect on the sport.”

Regular, strong and no surprises might go a great distance with NFL groups, particularly if Harrison places up some spectacular testing numbers on the mix. At 6-foot-6 and 272 kilos, the man is an athlete. Definitely, going within the second or third spherical of the draft in late April is an actual risk.

Popping out of highschool, Harrison was a five-star recruit and the No. 12 total participant within the Class of 2019, based on the 247Sports composite scores. Of the 11 gamers ranked forward of him, three turned professional early and went within the high 10 picks of final yr’s draft — cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., defensive finish Kayvon Thibodeaux, and offensive sort out Evan Neal.

Harrison wasn’t that.

4 of the gamers are nonetheless planning to play school soccer in 2023, all 4 of them having transferred throughout their careers.

Harrison wasn’t that.

The opposite three are on this draft class and on the mix, with one (Georgia’s Nolan Smith) ranked forward of Harrison as a draft prospect and the opposite two ranked behind him.

Which means Harrison is in the course of the center group of the perfect highschool gamers in his recruiting class. Just a few shot previous him. Just a few fell behind him. Harrison stayed proper on observe, which is a fairly good method to get your self to the NFL.

“I’m simply making an attempt to get my foot within the door,” Harrison mentioned. “When you get there, none of that actually issues. It’s all about enjoying soccer, getting again to sq. one, and also you’ve bought to show your self daily.”

He’ll be prepared for that.

If you happen to or a beloved one has questions and wishes to speak to an expert about playing, name the Ohio Drawback Playing Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the Nationwide Council on Program Playing Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700 or go to 1800gambler.web for extra data. 21+ and current in Ohio. Playing drawback? Name 1-800-Gambler.