Former Oklahoma OL Mocked in First Round of NFL Draft by Mel Kiper
With the offseason in full swing, the attention toward April’s NFL Draft is starting to ramp up.
Ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week, long time ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has dropped his latest mock draft - with a former Oklahoma player firmly in the first round.
Kiper has Sooners offensive lineman Anton Harrison landing No. 13 overall to the New York Jets, going as the third offensive tackle off the board.
“The Jets have major issues at offensive tackle,” Kiper wrote. “Mekhi Becton, the No. 11 overall pick in 2020, has played one game over the past two seasons. George Fant, who was limited to seven starts last season, is a free agent, while Duane Brown is 37 years old. They might have to fill both tackle spots this offseason. Luckily for New York, this is a Round 1 filled with solid tackles. Harrison started 24 games at left tackle for the Sooners over the past two seasons, allowing one sack and seven total pressures. He could play right tackle, too. He's a great fit for the Jets, who could have a new quarterback for which to block.”
Should this come to fruition, Harrison would be the first OU player taken in the first round since wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Kenneth Murray both went in the first wave of the 2020 draft.
Last season, the Washington, D.C. native was one of Oklahoma’s most consistent players - starting all 12 regular season games and performing at a high level.
Starting one game at right tackle and 11 at left tackle, Harrison was selected first-team All-Big 12 by both the league’s coaches as well as the Associated Press for his efforts.
Anton Harrison
Steve Sisney / USA Today Network
A 4-star recruit in the 2020 class, Harrisons signed with OU as the No. 17 offensive tackle in the country over other major programs such as Florida State, Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State and Texas A&M, among many others.
Now, with the combine approaching and OU’s Pro Day set for late next month, Harrison looks primed to be the latest Sooners offensive lineman to become an NFL commodity joining the likes of Trent Williams, Lane Johnson, Orlando Brown and Creed Humphrey.
