49 Jalen Harris
Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 6:08 am
Harris is a 6-4, 242, redshirt Sophomore Stud from Mesa, AZ. He played in every game last year, starting the last 4, while making 27 tackles (4 for a loss), 3 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. He is a player that appeared to get stronger and more confident as the year progressed. Harris is a common pick to be a break-out player this year. AZ Desert Swarm picks him as the 7th most irreplaceable player on the team saying:
and Michael Lev, Daily Star, rates him as the No. 5 player on the team:He is one of Arizona’s best pass rushers, and while he didn’t put up huge numbers last season (21 tackles, 3 sacks) it’s his constant pressure he puts on the backfield that is so invaluable. His length, speed and now power at 242 pounds gives him such a rare combination off the edge.
If he puts it all together, Harris is capable of reaching double-digit sacks. He might be the only player on the team who could hit that mark. No one on last year’s squad had more than 3.5.
But neither Wilborn nor any other edge rusher on the roster possesses Harris’ combination of length and quickness. He can use his long arms to get his hands on offensive linemen before they can get their hands on him. Or he can fly off the edge and beat them to the spot.
All of the above was on display during the spring game. Harris was the most disruptive player on the field, unofficially recording two sacks, an additional tackle for loss and a pair of quarterback pressures.
“If he continues to get stronger and stay in the 245- to 250-pound range, he’s got a really, really bright future,” UA coach Kevin Sumlin said afterward. “He brings edge pressure with length. He also showed today playing the run from sideline to sideline. There were a couple times we just couldn’t block him.”