Marcus Harris will not return to Auburn, declares for NFL Draft
AUBURN — Marcus Harris made his next move official on Tuesday night, declaring for the NFL Draft as many expected might happen.
Harris sent out a social media post thanking the entire Auburn football program, Hugh Freeze, staff, teammates, even janitors.
The decision isn’t surprising, although Auburn Live is told Freeze and co. tried to keep Harris one more season. But for Harris, turning pro and forgoing his final year of eligibility made sense. Harris just graduated from Auburn last weekend and is coming off the most productive season of his career.
Pro Football Focus graded Harris as the SEC’s top interior defensive lineman and named Harris first-team All-SEC. The media also voted Harris second-team All-SEC.
Harris finished his career with 126 total tackles, 31 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.
From Montgomery, Ala., Harris was a 3-star recruit in the 2019 class. He signed with Kansas and started his college career in the Big 12. Following the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Harris transferred back closer to home, landing at Auburn. He was immediately an impact player.
Harris started the last three seasons for the Tigers, often times coming up big in the biggest games.
In the Iron Bowl in 2021, Harris tallied four tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. Against Georgia in 2023, a near Auburn upset, Harris had seven tackles and two tackles for loss.
Impact of Marcus Harris’ departure?
Harris was by far Auburn’s best interior defensive lineman and certainly the Tigers’ best defensive tackle. Harris’ departure is a big deal, but it’s something Freeze and co. expected. Unfortunately, having only been here one year, Freeze and Jeremy Garrett didn’t have the chance to recruit behind Harris and build depth. The transfer portal will have to turn up a talented defensive tackle or two, because the Tigers will be lacking at the position heading into the spring of 2024. Impact of Harris departure? Major.
