2026 NFL Prospect Profile: Penn State’s Cornerback A.J. Harris

A.J. Harris transferred into State College after seeing limited action at Georgia as a freshman. In 2024, as a first-year starter in Happy Valley, Harris amassed 48 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, one pick, and had 5 pass breakups. He also has a flair for the dramatic, showing up in big games and in big moments. For example, in the Big Ten Championship, Harris collected 7 tackles against the Oregon Ducks. 

Harris will make an interesting prospect in next year’s cornerback class. He’s perfectly sized for the position in the pros, measuring 6’1” and tipping the scales at 190 lbs. With that size and frame, Harris can play both inside and outside, covering X-receivers downfield and fighting for combat catches. He’s also fast enough to cover a Z-receiver or slot, making him a versatile tool for defensive coordinators at the next level. 

Strengths

Harris’s size will allow him to be a big factor in run support in the NFL. He’s a dependable tackler and doesn’t mind getting his nose dirty in the run game, usually attacking instead of just forcing plays back inside. 

In the passing game, Harris plays with situational awareness, recognizing routes quickly and using his speed to jump routes to make splash plays. If he is beaten, he’s demonstrated appreciable recovery speed to fight back into the play. He’s instinctive and plays the game with a high football IQ. 

Weaknesses

With all of his talent and physical gifts, Harris can play a bit over aggressively, prematurely jumping routes, which leads to him getting beaten from time to time. Experienced route runners will take advantage of this, and it may lead to flags against him if he has to grab or interfere.

And while he’s not afraid to play downhill in the run game, his tackling could use some improvement. This is a coachable fix, and if Harris can wrap up ball carriers more efficiently, he can ameliorate some scouting concerns against him. Lastly, he needs to improve his coverage in zone schemes, where he sometimes loses his assignments or drifts while watching the quarterback’s eyes.  

Conclusion 

If Harris can play well during the 2025 season and impress at the NFL Combine with his skills and measurables, he can be considered a late first-round or early second-round prospect. This year’s cornerback class is deep, featuring likely 4-5 first-round talents. If Harris wants to be one of them, he will need to be a better tackler this year and improve his game in zone coverage. That said, Harris has the tools and talent to come off the board in the top 32 picks, but Draft Nation slots him comfortably in the top 10 picks of round two.