Eli Harold DE/LB Virginia #7
Wt: 247
Size/Athleticism: An explosive athlete who wins with speed. Strength is adequate for his size. Very well build but has a maxed-out frame. Lacks ideal length—average height for the position and short arms.
Run Defense: Gets dominated at the point of attack. Stronger offensive linemen can lock on to him and finish him off with ease. Fast enough to make plays in pursuit if he can avoid getting engaged off the snap. Tends to close too fast and out of control and whiffs on some tackles.
Pass-Rush: Elite explosiveness off the snap in terms of the speed at which he can fly into the backfield. Looks comfortable and fluid sinking his hips and dipping his shoulder to move around the edge. Lines up in a wide-nine position at times and can fly past offensive tackles if he times the snap right. Does not have the length to shed blocks. Once a lineman gets into his pads, he’s done. If he can avoid engaging, he can be slippery when blitzing on the inside. Doesn’t really have a pass-rush move aside from speed. Needs to develop a counter move, which is entirely lacking from his game at this point.
Versatility: Has experience at end and linebacker in Virginia’s 3-4 scheme. Probably best suited as a 3-4 edge rusher. Limited experience dropping in coverage, but appears to have the athleticism to handle some zone assignments.
Intangibles: Motivated player. Mother died of cancer when he was 15; older brother became a father figure to him (brother is much older).
Durability: Finished career with 24 consecutive starts. No known issues.
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Overview: Harold is an explosive edge rusher with the ability to improve as he refines his technique and learns to win with more than just speed. However, his frame is maxed out and he lacks the length to consistently disengage from blocks. He frequently gets mauled in the run game and will probably always be a liability against the run. It would be tough to justify spending a first-round pick on a limited player, but there is obvious value in his pass-rush skills so he won’be on the board long on Day 2 if he falls there.
