Tennessee Titans Nab Marcus Harris - Cal's Fourth Player Drafted

Cal is enjoying its best NFL Draft on the defensive side of the football in more than 70 years after cornerback Marcus Harris was chosen in the sixth round by the Tennessee Titans on Saturday.

Harris was chosen with the 182nd overall pick.

His selection gives Cal four defensive players drafted in the same year for the first time since at least 1952, when players often played both ways.

Harris was chosen after cornerback Nohl Williams went to the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round, and safety Craig Woodson was picked by the New England Patriots and inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan was taken by the Baltimore Ravens, the latter two both earlier Saturday in the fourth round.

Harris was by no means a lock to be drafted at all. Many projections had him on the outside of the seven-round draft, left to sign a free-agent contract.

A 5-foot-11, 189-pounder, Harris came to Cal this past season from Idaho. He began his career at Oregon State. He had 46 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups this season, playing corner opposite Williams.

With Williams, Woodson and Harris all drafted, Cal boasts 17 defensive backs taken in the NFL Draft since 2000.

Here’s how ESPN evaluated Harris: 

“Harris is an Idaho transfer and former Oregon State walk-on who shows great timing and violent hands breaking up passes. He ran well at the combine and runs well on tape. He flashes the ability to recover when he gets caught out of phase. He steps up and wraps up defending the run. Harris splits high-low route combinations, follows the ball and steps in front of receivers in zone looks. He intercepted five passes over the past two seasons.”

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