With the next pick: DL Marcus Harris

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AUBURN, Ala. – Marcus Harris strengthened his NFL resume with a productive 2023 season, his third on the Plains. 

The 6-3, 295-pound defensive tackle led Auburn with seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss last fall before entering the 2024 NFL Draft. 

"I'm ready," said Harris, who displayed his strength at the NFL Combine with 27 bench press reps of 225 pounds. "The process has been stressful. It's been a long process. I'm ready to see which team picks me up on draft day and I can wait."

NFL.com gives Harris a 6.10 prospect grade, projecting him to be a good backup with potential to develop into a starter. 

All Harris asks for is an opportunity. After starting his college career at Kansas in 2020, the Montgomery, Alabama, native returned to his home state when he transferred to Auburn in 2021.

In three seasons, including the past two as a starter, Harris logged 97 tackles, 11 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. 

Before Auburn's A-Day scrimmage, Harris received the Great Southern Wood Lineman of the Year Award for his performance in 2023. 

"It meant the most," Harris said April 6 on Pat Dye Field. "Seeing other guys like Derrick Brown and Colby Wooden get those awards, I wanted to be like one of those guys."

When Harris' NFL team has open dates, fans can expect to find him at Jordan-Hare Stadium watching his younger brother Malik Blocton, an Auburn freshman defensive lineman. 

"I'm so excited to see him," Harris said. "Being that role model for him, him wanting to play here. The advice I give him every day is to stay in his playbook, take one day at a time. You'll have some good days, you'll have some bad days but never be too high or too low. Always stay even and just be yourself. I think he's going to be a great player here at Auburn."


 NFL Combine
40-yard dash: 5.06 seconds
Bench press: 34 reps (Pro Day)
Vertical jump: 29.5"
Broad jump: 8' 7"
 


Draft Analysis
A three-year starter at Auburn, Harris worked primarily as a three-technique in former defensive coordinator Ron Roberts' 4-2-5 base scheme. After spending two seasons at Kansas, he returned home and showed steady improvements for the Tigers, including career bests of 11.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks in 2023. Harris was an enjoyable study because he plays with a ton of energy to wear down blockers with his activity and battle-ready hands. However, he moves with stiffness in his body (moved way too heavy during pro-day drills at 304 pounds) and is more strong than naturally powerful, which puts a cap on his NFL ceiling.

Overall, Harris is an undersized tackle who can be neutralized versus long-armed blockers, but he has the quickness and instincts to clear creases as a one-gap penetrator. He can find an NFL home as part of a rotation.

Grade: 5th-6th Round

- Dane Brugler, The Athletic (@dpbrugler)
 Signature Moment
Harris saved his best for the Hogs, especially in Fayetteville. In two games at Arkansas in 2021 and 2023, he recovered fumbles to help Auburn earn victories. 

Harris lived every lineman's dream, scoring a touchdown by recovering a fumble in the end zone in 2021 in Auburn's 38-23 win, then making a fourth-down stop on the ensuing drive.  Last fall, he recovered a fumble that led to a field goal in Auburn's 48-10 victory. 
 More Pro Prospects
Several more Auburn football alums in addition to the four profiled in this week's "With the Next Pick" series hope to hear their names called before the seven-round draft concludes on Saturday. 

Those who aren't selected will still have a chance to earn a roster spot by signing as undrafted free agents.

Seventeen Tigers auditioned for scouts March 22 during Auburn's Pro Day, including Justin Rogers, Zion Puckett, Gunner Britton, Nick Mardner, Kam Stutts, Elijah McAllister, Hayden Brice, Shane Hooks, Avery Jones, Mosiah Nasili-Kite, Larry Nixon III, Jacob Quattlebaum and Kassidy Woods.

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer