Tag: Derrick Harmon

Broncos scouts are zeroing in on these college football teams

Broncos scouts have been paying close attention to Oregon and Washington games this fall. Here are the prospects to know from those schools.

Going into this weekend’s slate of college football games, the Denver Broncos have spent more time scouting the Oregon Ducks and Arizona Wildcats than any other college football programs.

That’s according to NFL draft pundit John Vogel, who reported last week that Denver scouts have attended three Oregon games and three Wildcats games this fall. Broncos general manager George Paton also attended the Washington Huskies game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in September.

The most notable prospect among the four colleges mentioned is Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the top receiver in the 2025 class. The Wildcats’ offense also features offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea.

Oregon has a host of prospects who could interest Denver’s staff, including receivers Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart, offensive tackles Josh Conerly and Ajani Cornelius, defensive linemen Derrick Harmon and Jordan Burch, and running back Jordan James.

Washington’s prospects of note include running back Jonah Coleman, safety Kamren Fabiculanan and receiver Giles Jackson. Meanwhile, the Rutgers’ offense features offensive tackle Hollin Pierce and running back Kyle Monangai.

With Broncos scouts and executives checking in on those programs, the above players will be worth monitoring this fall. The 2025 NFl draft will be held in Green Bay from April 24-26. Denver holds seven picks.

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Oregon vs. Michigan in-person scouting summary

2025 NFL Draft prospects from Oregon vs. Michigan in-person scouting summary

Oregon traveled to Michigan to face the Wolverines as a member of the Big Ten for the first time. The top-ranked Ducks proved worthy of the lofty ranking, sending the partisan crowd to the exits early in a 38-17 road win.

I was among those in the stands at the Big House, though I stayed until the end of this one. Unlike most games where I’m holed up in the press box, I watched this one from the fan section, behind the Oregon sideline on a sunny late afternoon that quickly faded into a chilly final evening of Daylight Saving Time.

Here’s what I took away from some of the 2025 NFL Draft prospects in the game.

Derrick Harmon

Harmon stood out from the very first Oregon defensive snap. The Ducks DT artfully dodged a (poorly executed) block and crashed into the backfield for an emphatic TFL. It was the first of several impressively disruptive plays the Michigan State transfer made on the day.

Harmon’s ability to strafe laterally and stay disengaged from blocking was devastating to the Michigan run offense. Harmon has quick eyes and quicker feet for his size, but he also flashed some real power and finishing acumen. His ability to find consistent success while lining up on either shoulder of the guards showed some positional versatility along the defensive interior that sure looks like it will translate to the next level quite well.

It was also impressive to watch him on the sidelines. Even though he’s new to the program, Harmon was quite enthusiastic in exhorting his Ducks teammates to not let up once the game started to get out of hand in their favor in the second half.

Mason Graham

Graham had a quiet day as a pass rusher, but at least some of that is attributable to how quickly Oregon throws the ball. The interior defensive line doesn’t have enough time to really impact all the quick swings and screens, and that was true of Graham in this game. He did, however, show some very nice stack-and-steer work at DT on inside runs.

The ability to get off a block with his powerful shoulders and then contribute to the tackle proved why he’s a legit NFL talent, though this was the second Michigan game I’ve been to this year (USC the other) where I was underwhelmed with his initial burst; he can do power or quick, but they don’t marry as well as other recent top DT prospects–or like Harmon on the Oregon side of the ball showed in this game.

Evan Stewart

Stewart’s best play of the game didn’t even count. The Oregon wideout made a spectacular one-handed stab in the end zone at full vertical extension and managed to contort himself so that he landed with one foot down for a would-be touchdown. Alas, it was wiped out by a penalty on Oregon. It was every bit as awesome as the Odell Beckham Jr. snag a few years back.

Even though that one didn’t count, seeing how dynamic Stewart was able to slice and dice the Michigan secondary over the middle and up the seams was impressive. He’s got a very good pacing to his route-running, and Stewart proved he’s got great hands, too. The Texas A&M transfer got a few looks in the slot, and that’s where I think his NFL future lies–even though he’s got the field-stretching speed on the outside. He played with more physicality than I expected for a 175-pound receiver, though it wasn’t always effective physicality.

Colston Loveland

Loveland was the best Michigan player on the field and basically the only effective offensive player for nearly the entire game. The polish on his receiving traits–routes, releases, hands, strength in traffic, transition from receiver to runner–was fantastic in this one. Oregon’s defense knew he was getting the ball and they still couldn’t stop him.

This game reaffirmed that Loveland is not an NFL-caliber inline blocker and it will take considerable work to get him to be even a passable blocking presence. But for teams looking for a multi-level receiving threat at tight end, Loveland proved in this one he’s best-in-class. The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder even showed ability aligning as the wide receiver in this one. Very impressive game from Loveland.

Dillon Gabriel

The well-traveled Ducks quarterback stood out for three primary things:

  • He’s visibly smaller in person; both the 6-0 and especially the 200 pounds he’s listed at seem quite generous.
  • The lefty has a lightning-quick release and the ball comes out with impressive exit velocity,
  • Gabriel is very good at mistake avoidance, making the best decision with the ball almost every time.

Gabriel has decent pocket mobility and proved on his touchdown scamper he can chew up yards quickly with his legs, too. His downfield arm strength was visibly lacking, however; he had two deeper throws that hung up in the air too long. Even in the warmups on the sideline, it was clear the zip doesn’t last long on his throws.

Kalel Mullings

Michigan’s sledgehammer of a running back had a very rough afternoon against the quickness of Oregon’s defense. Mullings lacks great vision and there is almost no lateral agility to his game. He’s still learning how to play running back, so there is upside for a 233-pound rolling sack of hammers, but he’s still quite green at the nuances of playing running back. Oregon was very effective at not letting him get north-south right away and negating his power. The first Duck to hit him got him down almost every time.

Will Johnson

The standout Michigan cornerback did not play. He’s still recovering from a foot injury suffered early in Michigan’s loss to Illinois on October 19th. Johnson has also missed time in 2024 with a shoulder injury suffered in the Wolverines’ win over USC.

 

 

Former Spartan makes comment about Michigan Stadium

A former Spartan called out Michigan Stadium this week

Michigan State football lost a big-time player to the NCAA transfer portal this past offseason when Derrick Harmon made the move to transfer to the Oregon Ducks.

Despite leaving the MSU program, Harmon had some fan favorite moments with the Spartans and its fans, and this week, ahead of the Ducks game against Michigan, Harmon called out Michigan Stadium.

Harmon noted that the “Big House” is actually a quiet place to play, from his perspective:

https://x.com/TheWolverineOn3/status/1851625066624110929

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Chiefs scouting report: Oregon Ducks DT Derrick Harmon

The Kansas City #Chiefs could select Oregon #Ducks defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in the 2025 NFL draft to pair with Chris Jones.

Kansas City Chiefs superstar Chris Jones and savvy veteran Tershawn Wharton form one of the NFL’s best interior defensive line combinations. Unfortunately, Wharton hits free agency after this season, which opens the door for Kansas City to draft a new defensive tackle.

Oregon Ducks lineman Derrick Harmon could be a logical target for the Chiefs in the 2025 NFL draft, and could make an excellent running-mate for Jones as Kansas City tries to sustain its defensive juggernaut.

Harmon is an explosive athlete who fires off the line and engages his hands early in the play. His long arms help him lock out offensive linemen and execute pass-rush moves. Harmon needs to develop a larger arsenal of moves, but he already knows push-pulls, rips, two-handed swipes, swim moves, and club-swims.

Harmon’s combination of high-effort play, leg drive, and arm length make him an imposing force. He establishes long-arm moves to pry the offensive lineman’s pad level up and drives his legs to walk the blocker backward. When the offensive lineman re-anchors, Harmon counters with a rip move to squeeze past the block and pursue the quarterback.

Harmon also makes an impact in the run game. He uses his long arms to stack, peak and shed blockers with ease. Offensive linemen struggle to clamp down and contain him. Harmon disengages from single blocks with limited difficulty. He’s powerful enough to drive run blockers into the backfield and disrupt the play.

Harmon’s high-hipped frame limits his agility. This creates problems with bending around offensive linemen and corralling quarterbacks in the pocket. He needs to convert more of his disruptive plays into sacks and tackles for loss.

The Ducks go on the road to face Purdue on Friday, Oct. 18 at 8:00 p.m. The Boilermakers only have one win this season but took Illinois to overtime last Saturday.

Vikings get defensive line help in ESPN’s latest 2025 NFL mock draft

The Minnesota Vikings get help along the defensive line in the latest 2025 NFL mock draft from ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid.

The Minnesota Vikings are still riding high as one of only two unbeaten teams left in the NFL. They’re sitting atop the toughest division in the NFL right now, the NFC North, and have their sights set on doing some big things this season. But that doesn’t mean we can’t start looking ahead towards the future of this team. That future starts with the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Vikings laid a good foundation with the 2024 NFL Draft, especially in the first round, grabbing who they believe to be the future of their franchise with quarterback J.J. McCarthy. They also make an effort to shore up their pass rush by taking edge rusher Dallas Turner with their second first-round pick. Turner has struggled some in his rookie campaign, but he still has a bright future ahead of him in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ scheme.

While the Vikings have several high-quality pieces on both sides of the ball, several areas can be improved. According to ESPN’s NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid, the Vikings’ biggest areas of need heading into the 2025 NFL Draft are along the offensive line—particularly at guard, the defensive tackle spot, and cornerback.

So, where should the Vikings look next April?

Reid has the Vikings getting some defensive line help with the last pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, taking Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. Here’s Reid’s breakdown of the selection:

The Michigan State transfer has quickly become arguably Oregon’s best defensive player. With a quick first step, Harmon has been able to consistently penetrate the first level, picking up three sacks this season. His strong hands help him stack and shed blocks in the middle as a run defender, but he must do a better job of finishing plays. The Vikings’ defense has been excellent this season, but it probably still needs long-term depth at defensive tackle. Harmon’s explosion would work well in Brian Flores’ attacking unit.

It’s a little surprising to see Reid projecting the Viking to land help on the defensive side when guard has been such a glaring need for the team. However, that situation may improve with the return of Dalton Risner, and the Vikings could certainly use the depth at the position. Harrison Phillips isn’t going to play forever, and Minnesota would do well to think about the next man up despite his recent extension.

He’ll have some mighty big shoes to fill.

DT Derrick Harmon comments on transition from MSU to Oregon

“It’s different up here.”

“It’s different up here.”

That’s what former Michigan State defensive tackle Derrick Harmon had to say about his transition from the Spartans to Oregon when he recently caught up with the media. Harmon transferred to Oregon during the spring transfer portal window, a move that gained national attention because Harmon ranked as one of the top transfers in that window.

Harmon also told reporters he will be playing fewer snaps per game due to the increased depth at Oregon. He expects to play 40 to 45 snaps per game compared to nearly 80 per game while with the Spartans.

Michigan State will face Harmon and the Ducks this season in a Big Ten matchup on Oct. 4.

Click on the post below to read more on Harmon:

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‘It’s different here;’ Derrick Harmon knows something special is brewing in Eugene

Derrick Harmon noticed something different about the Oregon Ducks, which led him to transfer to Eugene.

Derrick Harmon entered the transfer portal back in December, looking to test the free agency waters and see if there was another program in the nation that fit him better than the Michigan State Spartans.

Ultimately, he returned to East Lansing for the spring season, being coaxed back by Jonathan Smith, who had just got to town after leaving the Oregon State Beavers high and dry.

The spring season went well, but ultimately, Harmon knew that he needed a change of scenery to reach his ultimate goals. So he hopped into the portal once again. This time, it wasn’t very difficult to find the right landing spot.

When Dan Lanning, Tosh Lupoi, and Tony Tuioti ask twice, you listen.

“I feel like you really don’t have at any university, three coaches that have something to do with the defensive line in their past,” said Harmon at Oregon’s media day. “You don’t get too many of those around too many universities. And if you got three coaches, your head coach, your DC, and your position coach all putting their hands on you, you don’t get that anywhere.”

That notion of getting molded by a trio of great defensive coaches may have been the sales pitch to get him through the door, but now that Harmon is in Eugene, it’s not hard to see why the Ducks have obtained the level of prominence that’s come over the past decade.

“It’s different here. It’s different,” Harmon said. “They say it a lot, but it’s different here. It’s nothing that I’ve experienced before.”

That’s not an uncommon refrain from someone experiencing Nike University for the first time, but it’s a great selling point for other people considering making that move up to the Pacific Northwest to play football. The coaches here have roots from other places in the country, and stem from some legendary coaching trees, but what they’re building is uniquely Oregon.

“The weight room and conditioning is the same because they’re all coming from the Alabama and Coach Saban era,” Harmon said. “But it’s different here and you can tell the difference from another program.”

What makes it different, Derrick?

“It’s just the tempo here,” he said. “You’ve got guys putting in extra work here. Guys are not just leaving the facility after they get done with the mandatory. Guys are trying to get the unrequired here.”

The unrequired is likely what it’s going to take in order for the Oregon Ducks to reach the unobtained. They’ve been close to winning a national championship before, falling to Auburn in 2011, and again to Ohio State in 2015, but the elusive trophy has steadily evaded their grasp.

Does that mean that it will finally come in 2024? Of course, nothing is guaranteed. But the Ducks seem to be as well set up for a championship run as they ever have been in Eugene, and it’s the players who are leading the way.

“Everybody is trying to win here,” Harmon said. “Everybody’s got the winning mindset.”

In the end, that might be what makes the difference.

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Pair of high-profile Oregon football transfers officially arrive in Eugene

Brandon Johnson and Derrick Harmon are officially home in Eugene.

Due to the academic calendar for some schools around the nation, it took until now for a handful of new Oregon Ducks to land in Eugene and join the team.

Though they weren’t able to be with the Ducks for the spring football season, a pair of highly important newcomers appear to be on campus at Oregon. Duke safety transfer Brandon Johnson and Michigan State defensive line transfer Derrick Harmon announced their arrivals on social media.

Johnson has been committed to Oregon for several months, but because of the quarters system at the U of O, he was unable to enroll in school and make it to Eugene until now.

Harmon, on the other hand, didn’t end up committing until after spring football ended, so this was his first opportunity to make it to Eugene.

We don’t know what number Harmon will wear with the Ducks — he wore No. 41 with the Spartans — but it appears Johnson will wear No. 3 with Oregon, the same number he wore for Duke in 2023.

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Did USC blow 2024 by not getting pricey defensive tackle in transfer portal?

The USC transfer portal discussion will linger into the 2024 season. The Trojans will have to compensate on the field.

On the latest Conquest Call-In Show, Matt Zemek and I wrestled with the cost for USC football of not signing Derrick Harmon or any of the other big-dollar defensive linemen from the transfer portal. What will it cost the Trojans?

There is an argument to be made that the value of a defensive tackle is so great that USC needed to shell out a few extra dollars in order to secure someone at that particular position, given that it is an area of acute need for the Trojans. The contrary argument is that Derrick Harmon is not that elite a player, such that a large investment in him would not be worth it. Another part of all this is that when people discuss the value of an incoming transfer portal player, does the value have to be “national championship” value, or is merely adding one more win to the projected season win total a significant reason to bring aboard that player, even if it means USC won’t likely play for the national title in 2024?

This discussion occurs at the 52:30 mark of the video below at The Voice of College Football. Subscribe to and like our USC channel:

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Derrick Harmon whiff places fresh pressure on Lincoln Riley at USC

USC’s margin for error is much smaller without Derrick Harmon on board.

The USC Trojans needed to land Derrick Harmon, but they didn’t. Oregon did. We are left with a situation in which the Trojans don’t seem to have enough high-level defensive linemen after a brutal 2023 season in which their defense didn’t measure up. It’s true that Lincoln Riley has dramatically upgraded the defensive coaching staff, but USC doesn’t appear to have enough dudes to compete at the very highest levels of the Big Ten.

Riley might have made appropriate staffing adjustments, but the residue of last year’s failed 8-5 season likely contributed to Harmon choosing Oregon over USC. The Ducks are closer to a national title than the Trojans are. Harmon’s decision can be seen as rational in that context.

All of this puts more heat on Riley. USC football analyst Josh Webb reminded everyone about Riley’s pronounced limitations when writing this:

“If you were to take a look at total defense stats for the years Riley has been a head coach and average them out, you’d get a team that’s consistently 81st in the nation in total defense. What about that screams elite? Then there’s the fact that in the last two years, he’s averaging 110th in the nation, so that aspect of the team is going in the wrong direction as well. All of this is without going into splits or different aspects like the run game, run game defense, sacks allowed, sacks gained, or anything of that nature. It gets worse. 

“Is Lincoln Riley really that much better than any other Air Raid coach? Have we been caught up in the idea of Riley being successful those first couple of years (at Oklahoma) and then applied that to years in which his teams look outclassed and outcoached? I honestly don’t know the answer and I suspect I am not alone. Riley looks like a giant mystery right now.”

We will see how much 2024 amplifies or changes these kinds of very reasonable worries about Lincoln Riley.

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