With the No. 79 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers have taken Virginia Cavaliers outside linebacker Eli Harold.
2015 NFL Draft results: 49ers select Eli Harold with No. 79 pick
Harold is one of the best athletes in the draft, and projects to be a nice edge rusher.
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Harold has terrific size and speed to be a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL, standing at 6'3 and weighing 247 pounds. At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this February, Harold ran a 4.60 40-yard dash and clocked a 4.16 20-yard shuttle time. At his Virginia pro day, Harold bench-pressed 225 pounds 24 times, showcasing ample upper-body strength.
In 2014, Harold was one of the premier defenders in the ACC, earning second-team All-ACC accolades. Harold played as a defensive end in the Cavaliers’ scheme, and over the last two years registered a combined 29.5 tackles for loss. He also posted 8.5 sacks in 2013. Harold has earned substantial playing time over the past three years, although he comes into the NFL without experience standing up on the outside.
The major question with Harold is whether he can adjust to playing from a different stance. The athleticism is clearly there, but can he learn how to use his hands and adjust his footwork to his new dynamic?
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