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Player Profile - 4.4.09

Pros: Harris is a natural football player and is solid at most aspects of the game. He has great instincts and awareness on the field; a solid all-around corner that loves to make big hits on receivers and running backs. He looks extremely comfortable in zone and reads the quarterback very well. Even though he does not have great acceleration, Harris shows big-time playing making ability with the ball in his hands. He is elusive and makes quick, fluid cuts with great vision. He is a dangerous return man that has experience playing wide receiver.

Cons: He lacks the open field speed scouts love corners to have. He can be overly aggressive both in coverage and tackling. Will jump short routes he shouldn’t, and often goes for the knock out hit instead of the sure tackle. Definitely needs to play in a zone coverage scheme. He could end up being moved to free safety due to his lack of speed and quickness in coverage.

Scouts Take: Harris is a gifted playmaker, racking up 15 interceptions over the last three years at Virginia Tech. He plays with the swagger and knowledge NFL teams love defensive backs to have, and opposing teams fear. Despite his lack of speed, the former Hokie is comfortable with the ball in his hands and will at least get a shot as a returner—a potentially dynamic playmaker. If he is put in the right defensive scheme, he could develop into a star corner for his NFL team. If he struggles at corner, he has the ability to move to free safety and could be a ball-hawk. Harris has second-round ability, but could fall to later rounds because of his lack of measurables. The team that drafts him will have some work to do and decisions to make, but they will be getting one of the best all-around defensive backs in this draft.

School Bio

1.23.09 - Macho Harris had a better week than he’s being given credit for. He’s never going to be an on the island corner, but will find a place in the NFL. He was very physical with Ohio St.’s Brian Robiskie, simply not allowing the former Buckeye to go where he wanted to go (by most accounts, Robiskie was one of the tougher receivers to cover). He also showed the ability to play off-man coverage, which is not his strength. - NFL Draft Bible On Location At The Senior Bowl

12.6.08 - The senior has made eight receptions and has five carries for 48 yards. He is also an explosive return man, capable of making a game-changing play on special teams, always Frank Beamer specialty. Harris plays the “boundary corner” for the Hokies and is a great athlete with excellent body control. - College Football Insiders Senior Spotlight: Championship Week - Issue 2.15

Scout's Take - 7/20/08

Pros: “Macho” as he is known, has good length and a solid frame. His strength is in his amazing ball skills. Harris has a good feel for when to go after the football, with very reliable hands for a defender and once he gets his hands on the football, Harris is explosive—turning from defense to offense in a millisecond. He is also an explosive return man and may even see some action on the offensive side of the ball this season—he was seen lining up at wide receiver early on in spring practice. He has been durable, having made 27 straight starts heading into his final campaign. Harris played the “boundary corner” last season and may shift back to “field corner” this season, taking over for the departed Brandon Flowers, a second round pick in the 2007 draft. Harris is a great athlete with excellent body control.

Cons: Physically, Harris needs to add a little more bulk and strength to battle NFL receivers at the line of scrimmage and put his hat down to stop the run. His overall tackling and play against the run needs to improve—no one will be calling “Macho” the hit-man anytime soon. What will hurt his stock the most is his lack of blazing speed, particularly since he plays a position where speed is so important.

Overall: Because he will not get many off their seats with his 40-time, scouts could underrate Harris, despite his vast playmaking skills. He will never be a lock-down man-to-man cover corner, but could be a real asset in a zone scheme where he’d be able to keep receivers in front of him, read the quarterback’s eyes and make plays on the ball.

Photo Credit: David Knachel, Virginia Tech Athletics Communications