New England Patriots select South Carolina running back Kevin Harris in 2022 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots selected South Carolina running back Kevin Harris, who starred in the Gamecocks backfield for three years, with the No. 183 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. After establishing himself as one of the best running backs in the SEC, his slide to Day Three could made him a steal.

Kevin Harris, at 5-foot-10, 221-pounds with great strength, finished his college career with 358 carries for 1,977 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also added 35 receptions for 274 yards and one touchdown.

A former three-star  recruit in the class of 2019, he was the No. 637 overall player in the nation per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. The Hinesville, Georgia native also ranked as the No. 51 running back and No. 68 player in his home state after playing at Bradville Institute.

NFL draft analysts on Kevin Harris

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down what Kevin Harris can bring to the NFL in his recent scout of the running back’s draft profile. The analyst compared the South Carolina product to former NFL starter and Ohio State star Carlos Hyde.

The NFL.com scout pointed out that while his combine numbers did not meet expectations, his film and on-field production leave many excited for the future.

“Big, bruising runner with good vision and the self-awareness to understand that power running is what will butter his bread,” wrote Zierlein. “His 2021 productivity fell off from 2020, due in part to health issues, shared carries and average South Carolina run blocking. He creates for himself with contact and tackle-breaking talent, but typically drops and finishes against an open-field tackler rather than avoiding him. He’s a chain mover with excellent ball security as a battering ram inside. He will be limited as an outside runner and needs to come off the field on passing downs. Harris has talent and his impressive 2020 was no mirage.”