Cliff Harris 2012 Scouting Report

Cliff Harris came into the 2011 College Football season as one of the top cornerbacks. He was suspended for the first 3 games of the season but has returned back to his form and looks poised to have another big year. He earned second team all american status for cornerbacks as a true sophomore and was widely recognized as the nation’s best punt returner.

Measurables

5’11” 175 pounds, 4.64 40 yard dash, 30 1/8″ arms, 8 7/8″ hands

Strengths

+Good tackler for his size.

+Has big play ability in the next level. Harris is extremely explosive and has great hands and instincts when the ball is in the air. Last year, Harris recorded 6 interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. He has great body, balance, and very fluid hips which allow him to get to any position around the receiver to make a play.

+Speed is extremely important to a cornerback in the NFL and Cliff Harris has a lot of it. I expect him to run a low 40 time but his football speed seems even faster. Harris has great acceleration and can cover a lot of ground in not a lot of time. His acceleration gives him great makeup speed thus reducing his mistakes. He will be able to keep up with any NFL receiver.

+Athleticism allows Harris to be an excellent return man. Last year, Harris returned 4 punts for touchdown with his sheer elusiveness and speed. He can definitely make an impact in this department for many NFL teams as he learns the ropes in being a professional cornerback.

+Very competitive attitude.

Weaknesses

-Size. Harris has adequate height at 5’11 but according to ESPN, his weight is 165 lbs. This will be a problem if Harris wants to go up against the Calvin and Andre Johnsons of the league. I expect Harris to have already added some weight but he should be around at least 190 lbs entering the NFL to be able to play and not get injured and/or tossed around.

-Does not add much help in run support. This is primarily due to size but Harris does not get off of his blocks well as running backs come around the corner.

-Get burnt frequently going after the big play. Needs to be more patient in coverage.

-Extremely raw coverage skills. Harris shows flashes of great coverage but does not really have great man on man or zone cover skills. He cannot be left alone to cover a receiver at this point.

-Off the field issues. Harris was suspended indefinitely by coach Chip Kelly for driving 118 mph on a suspended license in a rental car. This was also the second time Harris has been caught driving on a suspended license.

Conclusion

Cliff Harris is extremely raw but has tremendous upside. His football instincts are natural however, he does need to work on his coverage skills to be a cornerback in the NFL. I expect Cliff Harris to go in the second round of the draft as he is still top 5 for his position. His size and off the field problems are troublesome, but his potential as a big play cornerback and a return man is too much to pass over for teams in need of a cornerback.

update:

In late October, Cliff Harris was suspended Again for driving with a suspended liscense and without insurance. This clearly will not help his draft stock and he’ll have to impress in interview to retain his late 1st early 2nd round grade.

He could end up being picked on day Three.

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