With bowl season and the College Football Playoff, NFL draft prospects still have games to play, but that doesn’t stop draftniks such as Mel Kiper of ESPN from getting started.
Kiper has been at it a long time, evaluating and scouting talent and offering analysis and information about draft prospects. Though we have months to go before the NFL draft, Kiper has already produced a set of prospect rankings for every position (ESPN+).
Only one Oklahoma Sooner found his onto Kiper’s positional top 10: Anton Harrison. Harrison started at left tackle for the Oklahoma Sooners the last two seasons.
Harrison checked in at No. 9 on Kiper’s offensive tackle list. Peter Skoronski of Northwestern and Paris Johnson, Jr. of Ohio State have been the two guys atop this tackle class since before the season started and look to close the season still battling for the top two spots.
With those two projected as top 20 picks, it offers some level of insight as to what round Harrison might land. Assuming three tackles go in the first round and three or four go in the second round, it’s not impossible for Harrison to go in the third round if Kiper’s rankings play out. That feels like his floor. How he interviews, performs at the combine, in individual workouts for teams and at Oklahoma’s pro day will give Harrison ample opportunity to move in those rankings.
Harrison, an All-Big 12 performer, thrived in pass protection, where his excellent movement skills and athleticism shined. Criticism of his play strength was loud this summer. He spent the offseason getting stronger with Jerry Schmidt, which showed in 2022. Harrison’s play was critical in helping Eric Gray produce a career-year on the ground.
There have been mock drafts from The Draft Wire that have Harrison going in the first round. Playing a premium position will help Harrison rise throughout the draft process.
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