Atlanta Falcons DE Zach Harrison Has Jersey Number For 2023
The Atlanta Falcons' best draft pick, according to CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso, has his number for the 2023 season.
Former Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Zach Harrison will wear No. 96 in his rookie season in the NFL, the Falcons announced on Twitter Monday. Harrison was selected with Atlanta's third-round, 75th-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Harrison used his 86 7/8-inch wingspan — which is less than an inch shorter than 6-8 former Ohio State Buckeyes offensive tackle Dawand Jones — to hand fight linemen in college and record 7.5 of his 13 career sacks in his last two seasons in Columbus.
The Lewis Center, OH. native's 90.7 Pro Football Focus pass rush grade was the second highest in the Big Ten since 2020.
After getting drafted, Harrison credited Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson for teaching him "pretty much everything I know about rushing the passer and playing defensive end."
"As far as just the technical side and being a student of the game, attention to detail and how to be a pro, I attribute a lot to the Ohio State program and coach J for getting me where I'm at," Harrison said.
Harrison told ABC 6 Columbus' Kellyanne Stitts that "it's cool" being a role model for younger players in central Ohio who have aspirations of making it to the NFL.
"I remember coming to Olentangy and there was guys that you looked at like, 'OK, I know his name. He walks through the hallway and there's a buzz through the whole school about him,' and now I feel like I'm that guy now," Harrison said. "Go home, talk to coaches and I can hear the kids whispering about me. It's cool to be an example, a role model for people growing up that if they work hard, they can reach their dreams, too."
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