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The moment Charles Harris got his name called. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/xuM2IMSYDR
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) April 28, 2017
Charles Harris is a Miami Dolphin! Here’s all the reading material you need regarding Mizzou’s latest first-round selection.
Overall, Harris is the 20th Tiger in history to be taken in the NFL Draft's first round.
Harris’ role in the Miami defense next year should be exactly what PFF writes - a pass rusher. The Dolphins traded for defensive end William Hayes this offseason specifically for his run-stopping ability. A year of being a pass rush specialist, learning from Hayes and Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake - a year that will allow him to strengthen his run game thanks to Hayes and increase his pass rush moves with Wake’s tutelage - will be perfect for Harris.
“I’m literally not functioning right now,” Harris said to laughter on a teleconference with Dolphins media shortly after the selection. “It’s a blessing. It’s an honor.”
It’s also a starting point and not a destination.
“It (doesn’t) mean a thing, because I still know what I’ve got to do,” Harris continued. “I’ve got to take advantage of this — being a first-round pick.”
The phone rang and rang.
But Chris Grier didn’t want to answer it.
The Dolphins general manager wasn’t going to trade out of the 22nd pick.
Not with one of his top two targets still on the board.
The Dolphins believe they have Cameron Wake’s heir.
And his name is Charles Harris, the latest first-round pick of Miami’s football franchise.
“We love the pass rush he gives us,” general manager Chris Grier said. “It’s a position where you can never have enough in this league with the game is being played.
“He’ll be in the rotation. We envision him being in the top four. … You can never have enough rushers.”
And yes, that was Sasquatch in the background at Harris’ draft party.
During a live shot of former Lincoln Prep/Mizzou star Charles Harris hearing that he’d been drafted Thursday night by the Miami Dolphins, ESPN’s Trey Wingo mistook Sasquatch for Chewbacca.
Jack Link's did a deal with @Charles_AO1 for his draft party, their mascot, the Sasquatch, just arrived! pic.twitter.com/o3RwD9mfeL
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 28, 2017
This. pic.twitter.com/ZhT9rCUQDG
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) April 28, 2017
The @NFLNetwork breaks down the selection of Charles Harris. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/X1G5sy8Tew
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) April 28, 2017
Proud of you, @Charles_AO1 pic.twitter.com/kQbR7pzr5W
— Jack Peglow (@JackPeglow) April 28, 2017
More Links:
- CBC receiver Cameron Brown hasn’t earned the same level of hype as some of his 2018 St. Louis counterparts, but he’s catching up. His offer list is ridiculous, and Scout.com just bumped him to a four-star rating.
- You have to figure it’s a backup plan for now, but St. Louis Christian Academy’s Mamoudou Diarra took an unofficial visit to Mizzou this week.
- “I think we’ll take a big jump,” says Mizzou AD Jim Sterk about Mizzou Football in 2017.
- Football and men’s basketball may be the drivers, but Mizzou’s athletic program as a whole is on sturdier footing than it’s ever seen before. The evidence: Mizzou has moved into the top 15 in the Learfield Director’s Cup race. Among SEC schools, only Kentucky and Florida rank higher. Nine different Mizzou teams have produced points so far.
- Mizzou Baseball badly needs some wins, and for the first time since 2011, Texas A&M is coming to town. Weather (i.e. likely Saturday rain) dictated that the teams line up a Friday doubleheader, then play Game 3 on Sunday. The action starts today at 3pm CT at Taylor Stadium.
- Mizzou’s Drew White won the 10K at the Drake Relays.
- Honors! Jessica Yuen: NCAA regionals participant. Lauren Reedy: USA Diving high performance squad. Bea Machado Santos: second-team All-SEC tennis.
- Mizzou’s ROARS gala was earlier this week. Mizzou Network has the exclusive red carpet footage...