Green Bay Packers NFL Draft prospect profile: TE Demetrius Harris
Player Information:
Demetrius Harris, TE UW-Milwaukee
6-7, 240 pounds
Hometown: Jacksonville, AR.
NFL Combine:
Did not work out at the Combine.
*40 time: 4.45
*Vertical: 37″
*According to CBSSports.com
News and Notes:
Harris looks to be another college basketball player-turned-NFL tight end … Originally signed to play football at Arkansas State out of high school but didn’t meet the academic requirements … After spending time at a community college, Harris decided to focus on basketball before transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee … Harris averaged 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a senior … He’s spending time at St. Vincent Sports Performance working out with Pro Bowl tight end Dallas Clark … Harris has a pro day set up in Milwaukee on April 20.
What they’re saying about him:
- CBSSports.com: “As the draft approaches, there is a growing buzz among scouts about Demetrius Harris, who played college basketball at Wisconsin-Milwaukee and whose freakish workouts are generating a following. Harris hasn’t played football since high school, but at 6-foot-7, 241 pounds (he projects to play at around 250), he runs in the 4.45-second range in the 40 and has a 37-inch vertical leap.”
Video:
Video Analysis:
- With no on-field video of Harris, it’s impossible to evaluate him on anything besides athletic ability.
- He’s clearly a fluid athlete; long, fast, quick and agile.
- Showed good hands, which he apparently showed during his workout with the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Forgiving pass target. Dude is 6’7″ with long arms.
- Again, it’s hard to judge him as a football player. But he’s certainly an impressive athlete that would merit a look as an undrafted free agent.
If drafted by the Packers:
An interesting prospect with in-state ties, Demetrius Harris could be an intriguing player for the Packers at the conclusion of this year’s draft. Jason La Canfora just wrote a piece over at CBS Sports suggesting Harris has a chance to make it in the NFL.
The absolute earliest he’d be drafted is late in the seventh round. More than likely, he’ll go undrafted before signing with a team to compete for a roster spot in training camp. If that team is the Packers, he would compete with the likes of Andrew Quarless, Ryan Taylor, D.J. Williams and Brandon Bostick behind starter Jermichael Finley. Coming to Green Bay would provide an interesting situation for Harris, as Finley is a former basketball player himself.
Jimmy Graham, Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez have all successfully made the transition from college hoops to professional football. And while Harris has a long way to go as far as his development, the transition isn’t exactly uncharted waters. It’s been done before, and Harris has the athleticism to follow in their footsteps.
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Marques is a Journalism student, serving as the Sports Editor of UW-Green Bay\'s campus newspaper The Fourth Estate and a Packers writer at Jersey Al\'s AllGBP.com. Follow Marques on Twitter @MJEversoll.
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Take a chance on him in the 7th, maybe the 6th. He doesn’t look like he can block, probably wont hold up to contact and needs more suddenness (go stop go) in hir route running
Bill Johnson put out an interesting theory about basketball tight ends; with Ted Thompson’s acumen at player evaluations, he puts less stock on measurables like height, weight and speed and focuses on the more “intangible” aspects of a player. This typically works well since he gets great value when he picks out players who others have missed because they don’t pass the eye test. However, this strategy fails when it comes to players like Harris because there is no tape to watch on him and in Thompson’s mind he gets devalued since measurables aren’t all that important.
I don’t know if this theory is true, but it makes sense to me.
…but not a bad risk as an UDFA, by that measure.
looks stiff to me.
Anyone drafted will have better hands than ole fumble fingers Finley. If he can block we should take him…
Well playing for UWM we know he can’t play basketball. One of the worst teams in the Horizon. UDFA and see what he is made of. No risk here.
Y’all some haters, he have a good chance in the NFL draft
You go to Uwm and see if you can do any better.
Blah….
In my mind he’d be more interesting as a 3-4 OLB project than a TE. He is undersized (for 3-4 OLB) at 240, but should be able to add some weight on that frame.
I just love the speed for a guy that size, too. When you are looking at late round or FA picks, look for SOMETHING special about the guy. Harris has special triangle numbers.