Columbus, Ohio born and raised, naturally Harrison chose to attend The Ohio State University. He came into OSU with a reputation for the ability to play anywhere on the field. In high school, Harrison played on both sides of the ball – quarterback, strong safety, and returned punts.
Harrison played in 12 games as a reserve his true freshman season. He appeared in 14 games his sophomore season with one start (36 tackles, three for loss, 1.5 sacks). In Harrison’s junior season, he tied for the Buckeyes’ lead with 81 tackles. The linebacker entered his true senior season second on the team in career tackles with 130 and solo tackles with 87 and ended the season as the leader in tackles with 75 stops.
The linebacker capped off his Buckeyes career with 205 tackles, 29 for loss, nine sacks, nine pass breakups, an interception, and three fumble recoveries.
An early-down player for most teams, Harrison brings more value against the run than the pass. With more development in zone, his playing time could increase. He’s projected to be a starter within two seasons.
Malik Harrison | LB | Ohio State University
Height | 6-3
Weight | 247
Class | Senior
Beyond Vince Williams and Devin Bush, there is no depth at inside linebacker. The Steelers lost reserves Tyler Matakevich to the Buffalo Bills in free agency, and Mark Barron was released, which signals that the Steelers will be snagging an ILB via the NFL Draft. If Harrison is on Pittsburgh’s radar, it would have to select him with the third-round pick.
