Houston Texans select Marcus Harris in seventh round of 2024 NFL Draft

The Houston Texans selected Auburn Tigers defensive tackle Marcus Harris in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Harris joins the NFL after playing three seasons at Auburn and starting for the Tigers the last two years.

Harris had a productive 2023 season, registering 40 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He stood out against the Georgia Bulldogs as he notched seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Harris was selected to the All-SEC Team by multiple outlets and was invited to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

In 2022, Harris tallied 30 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two passes defended. In Harris’ first season at Auburn in 2021, he recorded 27 tackles six tackles for loss, two sacks and one fumble recovery. Before joining Auburn, Harris played eight games for Kansas in 2020, posting 32 tackles and seven tackles for loss. He played in two games for the Jayhawks in 2019.

Harris played high school football at Park Crossing High School in Montgomery, Alabama as a three-star recruit. He ranked as the No. 1,790 overall prospect and the No. 163 edge rusher in the 2019 class, according to the On3 Industry Rating.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Marcus Harris

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com shared his analysis of Harris for his draft profile. He predicted that Harris would be selected in the fifth round of the draft and compared him to Timmy Jernigan who played seven seasons in the NFL. During his time in the league, Jernigan helped the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl in 2017.

“Playmaking interior lineman who makes up for his lack of size with quickness and instincts,” Zierlein wrote. “Harris punches above his weight class in the strength department, utilizing upper-body power and lower-body balance to fight the good fight. He’ll get moved around by bigger bodies, but he’s relentless and has the athleticism to find his way back into plays.

“He has skilled hands and the lateral quickness to dive into gaps as both a run defender and pass rusher. Harris’ best chance to succeed will be as a one-gapper in an even front where he can become a very good rotational defender or eventual starter.”