Michigan EDGE Jaylen Harrell selected by Tennessee Titans in seventh round of 2024 NFL Draft
Michigan Wolverines football EDGE Jaylen Harrell has been selected by the Tennessee Titans with the No. 252 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Harrell is the 12th Wolverine to be drafted this year, joining quarterback J.J. McCarthy (first round, No. 10 overall to the Minnesota Vikings), defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (No. 49 to the Cincinnati Bengals), defensive back Mike Sainristil (No. 50 to the Washington Commanders), linebacker Junior Colson (No. 69 to the Los Angeles Chargers), running back Blake Corum (No. 83 to the Los Angeles Rams), wide receiver Roman Wilson (No. 84 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers), offensive lineman Zak Zinter (No. 85 overall to the Cleveland Browns), tight end AJ Barner (No. 121 overall to the Seattle Seahawks), offensive lineman Trevor Keegan (No. 172 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles), linebacker Michael Barrett (No. 240 overall to the Carolina Panthers) and offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson (No. 249 overall to the Houston Texans).
The 6-foot-4, 242-pounder appeared in 44 games with 29 starts over four seasons in Ann Arbor, playing 1,160 defensive snaps, 941 of which came during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Harrell helped the Maize and Blue complete a 15-0 season with the program’s 12th-ever national championship. They beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl and Washington in the title game of this past season’s College Football Playoff He leaves Ann Arbor with a 3-0 record over Ohio State and three Big Ten championships.
The Tampa, Fla., native was disruptive as a senior in 2023. He ranked tied for third in the Big Ten with 7.5 sacks and tied for ninth in the league with 31 pressures. Both marks led the Michigan defense. Harrell totaled 31 tackles, including 10 behind the line of scrimmage, with 2 forced fumbles. His pressure and hit on Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord helped force the game-sealing interception in a 30-24 victory at The Big House Nov. 25.
Harrell was known for coming up with timely plays all season long, with head coach Jim Harbaugh referring to him as a “tone-setter.”
“I just got this little feeling in me, like, I know something’s gotta happen,” Harrell told TheWolverine.com last postseason. “I know I gotta go get it. I just got a little knack for wanting to get the play. Whenever we need something or we need a spark, I know I gotta dig deep and go get it done for my team.”
Harrell became a full-time starter in 2022. Helping lead the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff, he posted 30 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. The prior season, he was used as a run stopper, registering 15 tackles, including 2.5 behind the line of scrimmage. He saw time in four of six games during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
A four-star recruit, Harrell was rated as the No. 319 overall player in the 2020 class, per the On3 Industry Ranking.
