Zach Harrison Drafted In Third Round By Atlanta Falcons

Ohio State defensive end Zach Harrison was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 12th pick of the third round in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was the 75th pick overall.

Harrison was a starter for the Buckeyes the past two seasons, and earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors as a senior, posting 34 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He was a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection as both a junior and sophomore.

The Buckeyes have now had nine defensive ends drafted since defensive line coach Larry Johnson arrived at Ohio State in 2014.

Harrison finished his Ohio State career with 106 career tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, and 13.0 sacks. He was also a team captain as a junior in 2001.

As a recruit, Harrison was a 5-star prospect and one of the top defensive ends in the 2019 recruiting class. He attended Olentangy Orange High School in Lewis Center, Ohio.

Notes and Accolades

Zach played four seasons with the Buckeyes and totaled 46 games played
and 27 starting assignments, including 11 starts in 2021 and 13 in 2022
He graduated in December 2022 with his degree in criminology
Earned first-team all-Big Ten Conference honors as a senior in 2022 after
recording 34 tackles, 8.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, four PBUs and six QB hurries
Had 2.5 TFLs (-16 yards) in the win over Maryland and 2.0 vs. Iowa
Closed his career with TFLs in final three games, including 1.0 vs. Michigan
and 1.5 in the CFP vs. Georgia
Closed out his career with 106 career tackles, 25.5 TFLs (-75 yards) and 13.0 quarterback sacks
A team captain in 2021 who had a fine year with 8.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, four
pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries
Had two “strip sacks” that resulted in TDs vs. Minnesota and Penn State
Started 11 games in 2021 and was named second-team all-Big Ten
Had a career high six tackles vs. Purdue and had five in the win over Utah
Named second-team all-Big Ten in 2020 by the conference coaches
Played in seven of the team’s eight games in 2020; started vs. Penn State
Appeared in all 14 games in 2019 and started vs. Maryland and vs. Clemson
in the College Football Playoff semifinal