Look: Zach Harrison makes strong first impression in first rep with Atlanta Falcons
Zach Harrison is already making a strong first impression on the Atlanta Falcons.
After being selected as the No. 75 overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, the former Ohio State defensive end dominated his first rep in NFL pads Monday, bull rushing through offensive lineman Tyler Vrabel, son of former Ohio State defensive lineman and current Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
Zach Harrison with a dominant first rep in pads at #Falcons camp. Huge eruption from the defense. pic.twitter.com/td3co1hvFq
— Daniel Flick (@DFlickDraft) July 31, 2023
Harrison, who is listed at 6-foot-6, 272 pounds, told the Falcons media team that he has high expectations for himself in the NFL, stemming from his trip to the NFL Hall of Fame with his mother in fifth grade.
"My mom took us to the Hall of Fame in fifth grade, and I was walking around those hallways like 'Man, one day I want to play in the NFL,'" Harrison said. "'I want to have people watch me on TV.'
.@zacharrison_ has made Ohio proud
Now he’s onto his next chapter in ATL pic.twitter.com/z7tMbMjAYH— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 1, 2023
"It's a dream come true. It comes with a lot of pressure, of course, being a highly-recruited guy, coming from Ohio State. Just kind of that constant pressure, it's a blessing, expecting to be amazing."
According SB Nation's Kevin Knight, Falcons coach Arthur Smith said Harrison has "a lot of room to grow."
"He's got so much growth potential," Smith said. "And there's not a lot of pressure because of the situation he's come into here, but he's still got a chance to start Week 1."
#Falcons Arthur Smith on Zach Harrison: Like a lot of guys we invested in early, he's got a lot of room to grow. He's got so much growth potential. And there's not a lot of pressure because of the situation he's come into here, but he's still got a chance to start Week 1.
— Kevin Knight (@FalcoholicKevin) July 31, 2023
Arriving at Ohio State as a five-star defensive end and the No. 12 player in the country, Harrison finished his college career with 97 tackles, 24 tackles-for-loss and 11 sacks. In 2022, he finished with a career high in tackles (34) and tackles-for-loss (8).
After preseason matchups against the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers, Harrison and the Falcons will open the 2023 season at home against the Carolina Panthers at 1 p.m. Sept. 10.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Zach Harrison, former Ohio State DE, makes first impression with Atlanta Falcons
