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Malik Harrison Expects to Expand Leadership, Production in 2019
January 10, 2019by Tony Gerdeman0 comments
Next season, the Buckeyes will return every linebacker from the 2018 season, save for Dante Booker, which means they will enter 2019 as a veteran group.
That doesn’t mean they are necessarily a proven group, however, as struggles were apparent at times in each of the past two seasons.
New Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is trying to bring some consistency to that group with the hiring of new defensive coordinators and a new linebackers coach in Al Washington.
While opposing coaches could appreciate the intricacies of Greg Schiano’s defense, it was often difficult for the players themselves to execute all of the necessary keys. That is why things would have to get simplified later in the season, and also why production would increase.
It’s a long way from the 2016 Ohio State defense that was deemed “basic” by Oklahoma’s backup quarterback.
In fact, one source has it that upon saying goodbye to his players, former linebackers coach Bill Davis told his players they would never play in a defense more complex than Schiano’s.
As such, things should expect to get back to simpler times under coordinators Jeff Hafley and Greg Mattison. When Chris Ash took over the defense in 2014, he went very simple and made sure the defense was good at the basics before getting any more complicated. That was a gradual process, and this one likely will be too.
Helping matters out will be a veteran defense, led by seniors like linebacker Malik Harrison, safety Jordan Fuller, and defensive linemen Robert Landers, Davon Hamilton, and Jonathon Cooper.
Both Harrison and Fuller had decisions to make regarding the NFL, and both decided to return.
Harrison finished the season better than he began it, and it goes back to everything that he was being asked to do. Paralysis by analysis isn’t his excuse, but you can see how it could be.
“I feel like earlier was just me just being uptight and wanting to get everything right,” Harrison said. “As the games went on it was just me being more loose and more relaxed and having fun out there.”
Harrison and Fuller tied for the team lead with 81 tackles each. Over the final three games, Harrison finished with 24 tackles, including 10 in the Big Ten Championship Game. Two of his 8.5 tackles for loss came against Michigan, as did one of his 2.5 sacks. Two of his three quarterback hurries came against Northwestern.
What was the difference?
“Just getting more confidence,” he said. “As the year progressed, I got better every week and I think these last couple of games I just took off. Just me being confident and just having fun out there.”
Those last few games are what had Harrison thinking about the NFL. After weighing the pros and cons, however, returning to Ohio State for his senior season won out.
There is still plenty more to accomplish and plenty to get better at. Harrison also wants to become a more well-rounded leader on defense.
“Tuf [Borland] is already one of the leaders here right now, so I feel like if I come back next year, just take another step, Tuf is still going to be a leader, I’m going to become a leader,” he said prior to the Rose Bowl. “Me now, I feel like these last couple games I became more of a leader just by my actions, not really talking, but just my actions. Next year I feel like I can elevate it, do the talking and my actions.”
There is no doubting Harrison’s ability to run from sideline to sideline. He is one of the best athletes on the Ohio State defense. The plan now is for this new defense to showcase those abilities better than the last one did.
With consistency comes production, and with production comes leadership. Harrison expects to be a larger part of the 2019 defense in every aspect.
“I feel like it would benefit me a lot,” he said of returning for his senior season. “Me just growing up more and taking my game to another level.”
https://theozone.net/2019/01/malik-...4c1809uIWJvNvJCuHnCuHqa5qKEWKwpoCTxy6yJtiniwk
January 10, 2019by Tony Gerdeman0 comments
Next season, the Buckeyes will return every linebacker from the 2018 season, save for Dante Booker, which means they will enter 2019 as a veteran group.
That doesn’t mean they are necessarily a proven group, however, as struggles were apparent at times in each of the past two seasons.
New Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is trying to bring some consistency to that group with the hiring of new defensive coordinators and a new linebackers coach in Al Washington.
While opposing coaches could appreciate the intricacies of Greg Schiano’s defense, it was often difficult for the players themselves to execute all of the necessary keys. That is why things would have to get simplified later in the season, and also why production would increase.
It’s a long way from the 2016 Ohio State defense that was deemed “basic” by Oklahoma’s backup quarterback.
In fact, one source has it that upon saying goodbye to his players, former linebackers coach Bill Davis told his players they would never play in a defense more complex than Schiano’s.
As such, things should expect to get back to simpler times under coordinators Jeff Hafley and Greg Mattison. When Chris Ash took over the defense in 2014, he went very simple and made sure the defense was good at the basics before getting any more complicated. That was a gradual process, and this one likely will be too.
Helping matters out will be a veteran defense, led by seniors like linebacker Malik Harrison, safety Jordan Fuller, and defensive linemen Robert Landers, Davon Hamilton, and Jonathon Cooper.
Both Harrison and Fuller had decisions to make regarding the NFL, and both decided to return.
Harrison finished the season better than he began it, and it goes back to everything that he was being asked to do. Paralysis by analysis isn’t his excuse, but you can see how it could be.
“I feel like earlier was just me just being uptight and wanting to get everything right,” Harrison said. “As the games went on it was just me being more loose and more relaxed and having fun out there.”
Harrison and Fuller tied for the team lead with 81 tackles each. Over the final three games, Harrison finished with 24 tackles, including 10 in the Big Ten Championship Game. Two of his 8.5 tackles for loss came against Michigan, as did one of his 2.5 sacks. Two of his three quarterback hurries came against Northwestern.
What was the difference?
“Just getting more confidence,” he said. “As the year progressed, I got better every week and I think these last couple of games I just took off. Just me being confident and just having fun out there.”
Those last few games are what had Harrison thinking about the NFL. After weighing the pros and cons, however, returning to Ohio State for his senior season won out.
There is still plenty more to accomplish and plenty to get better at. Harrison also wants to become a more well-rounded leader on defense.
“Tuf [Borland] is already one of the leaders here right now, so I feel like if I come back next year, just take another step, Tuf is still going to be a leader, I’m going to become a leader,” he said prior to the Rose Bowl. “Me now, I feel like these last couple games I became more of a leader just by my actions, not really talking, but just my actions. Next year I feel like I can elevate it, do the talking and my actions.”
There is no doubting Harrison’s ability to run from sideline to sideline. He is one of the best athletes on the Ohio State defense. The plan now is for this new defense to showcase those abilities better than the last one did.
With consistency comes production, and with production comes leadership. Harrison expects to be a larger part of the 2019 defense in every aspect.
“I feel like it would benefit me a lot,” he said of returning for his senior season. “Me just growing up more and taking my game to another level.”
https://theozone.net/2019/01/malik-...4c1809uIWJvNvJCuHnCuHqa5qKEWKwpoCTxy6yJtiniwk
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DON'T SLEEP ON MALIK.
Ohio State's linebackers were a collective dumpster fire most of last year, but people seem to forget that Malik Harrison is a legit stud who had a chance to jump to the NFL as an underclassman.
He obviously decided to stay another year instead, and former NFL director of player personnel and current NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt has him among the best senior linebackers in the country heading into the 2020 season.
Let's make a pact not to lump him in with the other backers this offseason, because he's more than earned his respect and praise.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/skul...lasXosswfZAXMrgX_SYTOVH5irowIg_Yz_uJbjnyyfFnE
Ohio State's linebackers were a collective dumpster fire most of last year, but people seem to forget that Malik Harrison is a legit stud who had a chance to jump to the NFL as an underclassman.
He obviously decided to stay another year instead, and former NFL director of player personnel and current NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt has him among the best senior linebackers in the country heading into the 2020 season.
Let's make a pact not to lump him in with the other backers this offseason, because he's more than earned his respect and praise.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/skul...lasXosswfZAXMrgX_SYTOVH5irowIg_Yz_uJbjnyyfFnE
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bucknut502
Hall of Fame
Malik was good last year. And with a less complex scheme, he’ll be a star! I’ve been saying this but I believe the best trio to put on the field will be Harrison|Mitchell|Browning. Give me those three with solid coaching and a “see ball, get ball” scheme.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Ranking Ohio State’s 2019 Playmakers on Defense: No. 3 — LB Malik Harrison
The No. 3 player on this list thought about leaving early for the NFL, but is back for his second year as a starter following a season where he led the Buckeyes with 81 tackles and was fourth with 8.5 tackles for loss.
No. 3 — Malik Harrison, Senior Linebacker
Malik Harrison was one of those rare Ohio prospects who received an Ohio State offer following his senior season of football.
A 3-star prospect and the No. 48 “athlete” in the 2016 recruiting class, Harrison received his offer in December of 2015, took an official visit in January, and then committed to OSU on signing day.
There was some thought that Harrison could be a safety, but he began his career at linebacker, where he has remained.
Last season as the starting Will linebacker, he tied for the team lead with 81 tackles. His 8.5 tackles for loss were behind Chase Young, Dre’Mont Jones, and Tuf Borland. He also tallied 2.5 sacks.
Harrison was a valuable reserve as a sophomore in 2017 behind Jerome Baker.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, Harrison has ideal size for a linebacker, but is also a very natural athlete who uses his ability and speed to cover a good amount of ground.
Last year was not a great one for the Ohio State linebackers, but this year is expected to be much better for everyone, including the already productive Malik Harrison.
Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/07/ohio-state-2019-playmakers-malik-harrison/
The No. 3 player on this list thought about leaving early for the NFL, but is back for his second year as a starter following a season where he led the Buckeyes with 81 tackles and was fourth with 8.5 tackles for loss.
No. 3 — Malik Harrison, Senior Linebacker
Malik Harrison was one of those rare Ohio prospects who received an Ohio State offer following his senior season of football.
A 3-star prospect and the No. 48 “athlete” in the 2016 recruiting class, Harrison received his offer in December of 2015, took an official visit in January, and then committed to OSU on signing day.
There was some thought that Harrison could be a safety, but he began his career at linebacker, where he has remained.
Last season as the starting Will linebacker, he tied for the team lead with 81 tackles. His 8.5 tackles for loss were behind Chase Young, Dre’Mont Jones, and Tuf Borland. He also tallied 2.5 sacks.
Harrison was a valuable reserve as a sophomore in 2017 behind Jerome Baker.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, Harrison has ideal size for a linebacker, but is also a very natural athlete who uses his ability and speed to cover a good amount of ground.
Last year was not a great one for the Ohio State linebackers, but this year is expected to be much better for everyone, including the already productive Malik Harrison.
Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/07/ohio-state-2019-playmakers-malik-harrison/
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NOW A SENIOR, MALIK HARRISON DETERMINED TO BUILD ON PERFORMANCE IN FINAL FOUR GAMES OF 2018
Colin Hass-Hill on August 5, 2019 at 10:19 am @chasshill
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Realistically, had Malik Harrison wanted to leave Ohio State for the NFL after one year as a starting linebacker, he would have been drafted.
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 240 pounds, he has the size of a professional linebacker, and he pairs that with standout athletic gifts that have aided him since he played basketball for Walnut Ridge High School, which is just a 13-mile drive from Ohio Stadium. This offseason, he says he was clocked around 4.02 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle, which is a faster time than any linebacker at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine.
Harrison also played well enough to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2018.
Despite looking the part and standing out as one of the lone bright spots in a linebacker corps that struggled for much of the season, Harrison never truly considered leaving after his junior season. In his mind, he didn’t play up to his potential.
Sure, he shined in a seven-tackle, one-sack game against Michigan, and he racked up 10 tackles versus Northwestern in the Big Ten title game. But the consistency he desires hasn't materialized yet.
“I just didn't feel like I had the season that I could've shown,” Harrison said on Friday. “Them last four games, I showed that I had it, but I wish I would've had that in the beginning of the year throughout the whole year. So I just wanted to come back and have that year.”
He picked up 29 of his team-leading 81 tackles, four of his 8.5 tackles for loss and one of his 2.5 sacks in the final four games of the season, which were wins against Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern and Washington.
RELATED Malik Harrison Is Back to Improve His Draft Stock and Help Ohio State's Defense Return to Prominence
Particularly in the dominant showing against the Wolverines, Harrison flashed on the screen as an impact player at the second level of the defense, which the Buckeyes needed. He has a simple explanation for what led to his in-season improvement.
“I felt like I was just having fun out there,” Harrison said. “Early on in the year, being the first year starting, I just had a lot of things in my head and not really focusing on just having fun out there and playing.”
Harrison hopes to carry that momentum into this fall, when he’ll line up once again as the starting weakside linebacker.
“THE THING THAT EXCITES ME IS IT ALLOWS US TO JUST PLAY. THERE'S NOT TOO MANY COMPLICATION THINGS GOING ON. YOU JUST SEE BALL, GET BALL. MORE SIMPLE.”– MALIK HARRISON ON OHIO STATE'S NEW DEFENSIVE SCHEME
He’ll have a chance to maintain that level of play with Al Washington instead of Billy Davis as his position coach. Though he now calls Washington a “great coach,” he made the decision to return for his senior year without knowing who would coach him. With Urban Meyer retiring and Day replacing him, Harrison understood he would likely have a different position coach than Davis, who served as linebackers coach the past two seasons.
The unknown didn’t alter Harrison’s plans to play his senior season, though.
“I made it not even knowing,” Harrison said. “If coach Day was back, I was still going to be here.”
Harrison, now under his third position coach at Ohio State, harkens back to his first linebackers coach when asked to describe Washington.
“He reminds me a lot of coach (Luke) Fickell,” Harrison said. “He gives off that vibe that I had when I first came here with coach Fickell.”
In that comparison, Harrison is referring to the energy given by a young coach who has spent his entire coaching career in the college ranks. But it also works because the Buckeyes want their linebackers to return to the level of play overseen by Fickell, who spent more than a decade coaching the position at Ohio State before leaving to become Cincinnati’s head coach.
The linebackers received the brunt of criticism from the fan base as Ohio State's defense struggled last season. Arguably nobody on the team heard more from the fan base about their play than Tuf Borland and Pete Werner.
And while the linebackers don’t often talk about what they heard or how they played last year, Harrison said, they don’t really need to make that a constant topic of discussion. Everybody in that position room both heard and saw what was said and written about them.
“We definitely do have something to prove,” Harrison said. “It's was a lot of talk, a lot of things that was going just on us. We just come every day just to work so that we don't have that same problem this season coming up.”
RELATED Damon Arnette's Growth Off the Field Enabling Him to Emerge As A Leader On the Field for Ohio State
With a new position coach and two new defensive coordinators, Harrison and the linebackers will attempt to silence their doubters in a new scheme, which could allow them to play faster.
Seemingly every linebacker that has talked about the new defense has referenced a simplification with fewer reads, and Harrison confirmed that, once again.
“The thing that excites me is it allows us to just play,” Harrison said. “There's not too many complication things going on. You just see ball, get ball. More simple.”
The goal this year, Harrison said, is to be the top defense in the country.
As the sole senior starter at the second level and the linebacker who played the best in 2018, it’s up to Harrison to guide the group back to prominence. To do that, he needs to find the consistency he had in the final four games of last season and drag that across his entire 2019 campaign.
“He’s worked his tail off,” Washington said in the spring. “He’s been a leader.”
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...rUxk_P5D1BU2oGQUyqgE3q0qnjNWCwMqTImSszeIXevFg
Colin Hass-Hill on August 5, 2019 at 10:19 am @chasshill
Email this ArticleShare on RedditShare on TwitterShare on Facebook18
6 COMMENTS
Realistically, had Malik Harrison wanted to leave Ohio State for the NFL after one year as a starting linebacker, he would have been drafted.
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 240 pounds, he has the size of a professional linebacker, and he pairs that with standout athletic gifts that have aided him since he played basketball for Walnut Ridge High School, which is just a 13-mile drive from Ohio Stadium. This offseason, he says he was clocked around 4.02 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle, which is a faster time than any linebacker at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine.
Harrison also played well enough to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2018.
Despite looking the part and standing out as one of the lone bright spots in a linebacker corps that struggled for much of the season, Harrison never truly considered leaving after his junior season. In his mind, he didn’t play up to his potential.
Sure, he shined in a seven-tackle, one-sack game against Michigan, and he racked up 10 tackles versus Northwestern in the Big Ten title game. But the consistency he desires hasn't materialized yet.
“I just didn't feel like I had the season that I could've shown,” Harrison said on Friday. “Them last four games, I showed that I had it, but I wish I would've had that in the beginning of the year throughout the whole year. So I just wanted to come back and have that year.”
He picked up 29 of his team-leading 81 tackles, four of his 8.5 tackles for loss and one of his 2.5 sacks in the final four games of the season, which were wins against Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern and Washington.
RELATED Malik Harrison Is Back to Improve His Draft Stock and Help Ohio State's Defense Return to Prominence
Particularly in the dominant showing against the Wolverines, Harrison flashed on the screen as an impact player at the second level of the defense, which the Buckeyes needed. He has a simple explanation for what led to his in-season improvement.
“I felt like I was just having fun out there,” Harrison said. “Early on in the year, being the first year starting, I just had a lot of things in my head and not really focusing on just having fun out there and playing.”
Harrison hopes to carry that momentum into this fall, when he’ll line up once again as the starting weakside linebacker.
“THE THING THAT EXCITES ME IS IT ALLOWS US TO JUST PLAY. THERE'S NOT TOO MANY COMPLICATION THINGS GOING ON. YOU JUST SEE BALL, GET BALL. MORE SIMPLE.”– MALIK HARRISON ON OHIO STATE'S NEW DEFENSIVE SCHEME
He’ll have a chance to maintain that level of play with Al Washington instead of Billy Davis as his position coach. Though he now calls Washington a “great coach,” he made the decision to return for his senior year without knowing who would coach him. With Urban Meyer retiring and Day replacing him, Harrison understood he would likely have a different position coach than Davis, who served as linebackers coach the past two seasons.
The unknown didn’t alter Harrison’s plans to play his senior season, though.
“I made it not even knowing,” Harrison said. “If coach Day was back, I was still going to be here.”
Harrison, now under his third position coach at Ohio State, harkens back to his first linebackers coach when asked to describe Washington.
“He reminds me a lot of coach (Luke) Fickell,” Harrison said. “He gives off that vibe that I had when I first came here with coach Fickell.”
In that comparison, Harrison is referring to the energy given by a young coach who has spent his entire coaching career in the college ranks. But it also works because the Buckeyes want their linebackers to return to the level of play overseen by Fickell, who spent more than a decade coaching the position at Ohio State before leaving to become Cincinnati’s head coach.
The linebackers received the brunt of criticism from the fan base as Ohio State's defense struggled last season. Arguably nobody on the team heard more from the fan base about their play than Tuf Borland and Pete Werner.
And while the linebackers don’t often talk about what they heard or how they played last year, Harrison said, they don’t really need to make that a constant topic of discussion. Everybody in that position room both heard and saw what was said and written about them.
“We definitely do have something to prove,” Harrison said. “It's was a lot of talk, a lot of things that was going just on us. We just come every day just to work so that we don't have that same problem this season coming up.”
RELATED Damon Arnette's Growth Off the Field Enabling Him to Emerge As A Leader On the Field for Ohio State
With a new position coach and two new defensive coordinators, Harrison and the linebackers will attempt to silence their doubters in a new scheme, which could allow them to play faster.
Seemingly every linebacker that has talked about the new defense has referenced a simplification with fewer reads, and Harrison confirmed that, once again.
“The thing that excites me is it allows us to just play,” Harrison said. “There's not too many complication things going on. You just see ball, get ball. More simple.”
The goal this year, Harrison said, is to be the top defense in the country.
As the sole senior starter at the second level and the linebacker who played the best in 2018, it’s up to Harrison to guide the group back to prominence. To do that, he needs to find the consistency he had in the final four games of last season and drag that across his entire 2019 campaign.
“He’s worked his tail off,” Washington said in the spring. “He’s been a leader.”
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...rUxk_P5D1BU2oGQUyqgE3q0qnjNWCwMqTImSszeIXevFg
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scarletngray
Gold Pants
Love that they are simplifying things on D. This will help in not giving up the big plays by having guys out of position.
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