Christian Harris LB Alabama: Scouting Report

Height: 6’1’’

Weight: 235

Overall

Christian Harris is an athletic linebacker in Alabama’s 4-3 defense. He made a lot of plays on film and has been a consistent playmaker for the tide since he earned the starting role in 2019. He had a lot of production against some of the best talent in college football which will help ease hi transition into the pros.

Run Game

In the run game, Harris makes a lot of plays but needs to be more aggressive in getting to the ball-carrier. At times, he shows elite closing speed to make plays in the backfield but other times, he does not show the same effort to make the play. He is an inconsistent tackler as well. He needs to improve his ability to finish tackles and work on his tackling technique in the open field. He has the speed to chase down plays from sideline to sideline but he needs the space to do so. He is slightly undersized which makes it difficult for him to get off blocks and for him to make an impact in the pros, he will need to be lined up behind a defensive line that can eat up blocks and allow him to come downhill and make plays.

Pass Game

In the pass game, Harris was often used on blitzes and was excellent at getting to the quarterback. He does a great job of using his speed and acceleration to find the open gap and immediately create pressure on the quarterback. When rushing off the edge though, he has some struggles in getting off of blocks, so he is best suited as an inside blitzer. He does not have a lot of experience in coverage, especially in man coverage, but he has the athleticism to cover a lot of ground and potential develop into a man coverage linebacker.

Last Word

Christian Harris projects best as a Will linebacker where he can use his speed to chase down plays and be used on blitzes. In college, he had the luxury of playing with a dominant defensive line allowing him to easily diagnose the play and attack the ball but in the NFL he will need to improve his ability to get off blocks before he can be a reliable 3 down linebacker. He can be a strong asset as a blitzer on 3rd downs but needs to develop in coverage. He can be an excellent special teams player with his blend of size and speed.

One-Liner: Christian Harris makes a lot of plays on film and has the physical tools to excel in the NFL, but he will need to improve his strength and coverage abilities before he can be a reliable 3 down starter.

Grade: 6.6 (Lower End Starter on All 3 Downs)

Games Watched: 2021 – Ole Miss, Georgia

Team Fits: Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions