Jacksonville Jaguars select Anton Harrison in first round of 2023 NFL Draft
Anton Harrison provided stability at left tackle in college at Oklahoma, and now he’ll hope to carry over that success into the NFL. The Jacksonville Jaguars have confidence he can make the transition, selecting him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Harrison was named a first-team All-Big 12 selection this past season after starting all 12 regular season games before opting out of the Cheez-It Bowl. He played 862 snaps and allowed only one sack to earn a grade of 72.6 according to Pro Football Focus. Behind Harrison and the rest of the line, the Sooners ranked ad the No. 1 rushing offense in the Big 12 with 219.4 ground yards per game.
Harrison brings valuable experience with him to the pros with 24 starts over the past two seasons. He even played nine games as a true freshman in 2020 and allowed just four sacks across his three-year career. He saw 97.2% of his snaps at left tackle, with the other 2.8% coming at right tackle.
Harrison played high school football at Archbishop Carroll in Washington, DC, where he was a four-star prospect. He ranked at the No. 221 overall player and No. 23 offensive tackle in the 2020 class according to the On3 Industry Rating, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Anton Harrison
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein provided some insight on Harrison’s game in his recent scout of the offensive lineman’s draft profile. The analyst compared him to Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, noting his football IQ as well as size and length.
Zierlein raised concerns about Harrison’s ability as a run blocker, but ultimately projected him as a future starter with time.
“Collegiate left tackle with good size and length, but average athletic traits,” the analyst wrote. “Harrison is self-aware and does a nice job of utilizing his strengths to mask his weaknesses. He has a feel for pocket depth and uses his length and an inside-out approach to get the job done, but NFL speed could have him scrambling without help.
“Harrison lacks the pop and drive of a plus run blocker and is better at neutralizing opponents with proper positioning. There are some limitations athletically and it won’t always look fluid, but Harrison has the demeanor and football savvy to get the job done as a starter in time.