Marcus Harris CB California | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Marcus Harris CB California
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.45 seconds (68%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.45 seconds (68%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 80.0 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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80% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 79.2 | |
| Tackling: |
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81% |
| Run Defense: |
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81% |
| Coverage: |
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77% |
| Zone: |
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72% |
| Man/Press: |
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77% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#314
Position rank:
#59
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| College Games: 51 College Snaps: 2897 | ||
247 RATING: 75/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.4 (89%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Mitchell - Northwestern |
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96% |
| Myles Harden - South Dakota |
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95% |
| Josh Wallace - Michigan |
|
89% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The Portland native and Grant High School product began his college journey as a modest two-star recruit before blossoming into one of the most decorated defenders in Idaho football history. Marcus Harris, born in 2001, stands 5'11" and weighs 190 pounds, measurements that belie the outsized impact he made during his collegiate career. After redshirting his first year with the Vandals, Harris made an immediate impression during the COVID-shortened spring 2021 season, appearing in all four games and setting the foundation for what would become a stellar career in the Big Sky Conference.Harris's development accelerated dramatically over his next three seasons at Idaho. In fall 2021, he recorded 47 tackles, seven pass breakups and his first collegiate interception while appearing in all 11 games. By 2022, the cornerback had established himself as one of the conference's premier defenders, earning second-team All-Big Sky honors and a Hero Sports Sophomore All-American selection while tallying 53 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, two interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), and a fumble recovery touchdown. His 14 passes defended that season ranked third in Idaho history. His 2023 campaign proved even more impressive as he garnered AP First-Team All-American honors, First-Team All-Big Sky recognition, and broke the Idaho career record for passes defended with 36 while collecting 51 tackles and three interceptions.
For his final collegiate season, Harris transferred to California where he started immediately and appeared in all 12 games for the Golden Bears. His 2024 campaign featured 46 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions (including a 19-yard return against UC Davis), three pass breakups, and a forced fumble against NC State. His versatility and consistency showed throughout the season, whether delivering a 10-tackle performance against Miami or making critical stops against Power Five competition. Over his entire 51-game collegiate career spanning both Idaho and California, Harris accumulated 197 tackles, 6 interceptions, and established himself as a defensive playmaker worthy of NFL consideration.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Instinctive zone defender who reads quarterback intentions exceptionally well, consistently jumping underneath routes with perfect timing that led to multiple defensive touchdowns at Idaho.
- Shows remarkable tackling efficiency for his position, wrapping up cleanly and driving through contact with surprising power - evidenced by his elite 81.4 tackling grade.
- Natural ball skills translate into consistent pass breakups, positioning himself perfectly to disrupt at the catch point without drawing flags in contested situations.
- Brings understated physicality against the run, consistently setting the edge and funneling plays back inside, reflecting in his outstanding 81.0 run defense grade.
- Displays veteran-level football IQ with exceptional route recognition, rarely fooled by misdirection or double moves that trapped less experienced corners.
- Calculated risk-taker who knows when to gamble for the big play and when to maintain coverage integrity - plays with controlled aggression rather than recklessness.
- Transitions smoothly from backpedal to drive with minimal wasted motion, allowing him to close throwing windows that initially appear open on film.
- Brings special teams value as a gunner and potential return man, showing the competitive toughness coaches covet from developmental secondary players.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks ideal size for an outside corner in today's NFL, potentially limiting his scheme versatility and matchup capabilities against larger receivers.
- Displays occasional tightness in the hips when forced to flip and run vertically, struggling to maintain position against receivers with sudden breaks.
- Man coverage technique needs refinement, particularly when isolated without help against precise route runners who can exploit his average change of direction.
- Limited long speed will be tested against the NFL's elite deep threats, potentially forcing teams to provide safety help over the top.
- Press technique remains a work in progress, lacking the play strength to consistently redirect receivers at the line of scrimmage against better competition.
Scouting Report: Summary
Harris is the type of player who makes scouts pound the table on day three. His elite run defense and exceptional tackling ability jump off the film - these aren't just solid traits, they're difference-making skills that translate immediately to the NFL level. He's precisely the kind of late-round gem that smart defensive coordinators identify as undervalued because the eye-popping athleticism isn't there, but the football player absolutely is.Zone-heavy defensive schemes should be fighting to add Harris as a draft steal in the later rounds, where his combination of instincts and physicality provides day-two value at a day-three price. The intelligence he displays diagnosing route concepts and triggering downhill against the run shows up consistently on film from both Idaho and California. This isn't just a special teamer - he's a defensive back with legitimate starting potential in the right system that maximizes his elite zone coverage abilities and run support skills. His lower ranking stems from athletic testing limitations, not his actual football performance.
Teams running heavy Cover-3 or quarters concepts should view Harris as a significant value opportunity. His tackling reliability and zone coverage instincts are worth developing, even if he needs time to refine his man coverage techniques at the NFL level. The film shows a player whose football acumen and elite run defense traits will outperform his draft position significantly. While his ranking might push him down draft boards, the team that selects him late will be getting a player with specific elite traits that fit perfectly into defined defensive roles. He's not a jack-of-all-trades prospect, but rather a specialist whose specific excellent skills deserve more recognition than his overall ranking suggests.
Marcus Harris percentiles vs other Cornerbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Marcus Harris (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
278.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
68.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.