Derrick Harvey, 2008 NFL Draft Prospect
 | Outside Linebacker/ Defensive End Ht: 6’ 4” Wt: 260 lbs. Florida Junior Speed: 4.64 Strengths: Burst, Quickness, Feel Weaknesses: Size, Strength, Raw Game Pro Comparison: DeMarcus Ware Scouting report by Daryl Breault |
Pass rushers usually dominate the higher rounds of the NFL Draft, with many players being taken higher than they should. Quarterback may have the highest bust rate but defensive line is not far behind. Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey has a ton of potential, a soaring ceiling and a cloudy future. That’s not to say that Harvey is not a top prospect and a great college player, he’s just not a surefire prospect.
He had minimal impact during his first two years in school but he really opened eyes with two solid years to finish his college career. He was named 2nd Team All-SEC his sophomore year after notching 35 tackles, 13 TFL and 7 sacks. He followed that up this year (2007) with 41 tackles, 14 TFL and 6.5 sacks. Harvey was a huge factor in Florida’s 2006 national championship, teaming with current Denver Broncos DE Jarvis Moss to form a terrifying duo off the edge. Moss was a 1st round pick of Denver while Harvey looks to follow. Harvey is thought to be a better prospect than Moss but I think they are quite similar in terms of potential and immediate impact. Moss finished with 12 tackles and 1 sack this year, but was injured much of the year.
Harvey possesses an outstanding first step, which he uses to great perfection. His game is all about speed and quickness. Once he’s got the lineman on his heels, he kicks into second gear and closes on the pocket where he can lay some big hits at near full speed. He is very good at changing directions quickly to grab QB’s that are trying to squirm away from him and he routinely chases quarterbacks forward towards the line of scrimmage. This is something that will aid him at the next level. Instead of the QB feeling the pressure and rolling out, Harvey gets there so quick that the pocket closes around the QB and he forces the QB to step forward into the crowded offensive line. While Harvey’s sack totals may not be spectacular, his ability to move the QB forward is a boon to his teammates. Harvey’s athleticism makes him a candidate to switch to linebacker at the next level. He may be better suited to the position that he is at end. His burst could be deadly closing on backs and tight ends in the flats.
While a position change suits his abilities, he has little experience dropping back and may take a long time to learn the position. That said, Harvey can be quite indifferent to stopping the run and is only average at this regardless. He can be wrapped up by lineman and completely taken out of a play. While great for rushing the passer, his devastating burst many times takes him out of the play before he can react. He has the speed to recover but is caught out of position far too often. He can be run at and is fooled by play action while leaving wide-open lanes for cutbacks and screens. He is so weak in this area and has so much to learn that it will take a very patient coach and a great position coach to get the most out of him.
Harvey should get drafted in the mid to late first round. He is a good candidate to be the 2nd end off the Draft Board after Vernon Gholston and could end up in Detroit, Arizona or Minnesota, three teams that need pass rush help badly. Harvey has loads of potential and could be a double digit sack threat, but he could just as easily have no impact what so ever.