WR, Percy Harvin, Florida

WR, Percy Harvin, Florida

Pros:  Shorter than scouts would like, but has a strong, compact build. Rare straight-line speed. Rare elusiveness. Can make defenders miss in tight quarters. Good vision when running in space. Sets up his blocks well and can cut back against the grain. Good agility as a route-runner. Strong, secure hands for the reception. Courageous going over the middle. Gathers in the pass and quickly moves upfield to maximize production. Can extend outside of his frame to make the spectacular reception. Versatile athlete who can contribute as a receiver, running back and shows great potential as a returner, although he never attempted a kick or punt return at Florida. Has struggled with durability, but is considered a physically tough player.

Cons:  Looks shorter on film than his listed 5-11. Many of his plays in this offense were slip screens designed to get him the ball quickly and in space. Could struggle acclimating to a more pro-style offense. Lack of success at the NFL level from former receivers from Meyer's offense is troubling. Has struggled with durability. Missed practice time in 2008 with ankle, hip pointer and tendonitis in his knee and heel.

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From Scouting Report at Mocking the Draft:

Harvin possesses possibly the best first step off the line not only in this draft class, but of the last several years. He's explosive off the snap, which allows him to immediately get open on slants routes. Harvin bursts into and out of his cuts with an strong plant foot. Coaches said he is a strong competitor with great work ethic. Has incredible elusiveness and can score on any possession. Intelligently cuts back to gain extra yards going against the flow of the traffic. Will go over the middle on occasion. Has the agility to make extraordinary catches look easy. An intelligent player who has lined up at multiple receiver spots, running back and even quarterback.

Highlights:

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

• The list of Florida receivers to fall short in the NFL is long.
  
   Jacquez Green, Reidel Anthony, Reche Caldwell, Taylor Jacobs, Travis Taylor and Chad Jackson to name a few. Of the numerous Florida receivers taken early in recent drafts, few have panned out to be stars, though Tampa Bay's Ike Hilliard has become a quality starter.
  
  Now come Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, whose success as NFL players could either entice scouts and talent evaluators to coach Urban Meyer's spread products at Florida or sour them on these unrefined receivers.  [see more..]
• The Gators' Percy Harvin disappointed some scouts Wednesday when he opted not to run the 40-yard dash at Florida's Pro Day - but he impressed them with his route-running.
  
  Harvin ran a 4.41 last month at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he was expected to run Wednesday in an effort to improve his time.  [see more...]
• "The main question is they wanted to watch me come out of breaks and run routes," Harvin said. "Once they saw me do that today, I think I cleared up a lot of questions. A lot of coaches came up to me and said they were very pleased. They said I had a great workout.
  
  "The main thing is they wanted to watch me run routes and see how fast I came out of breaks. There were a lot of questions whether I could actually run routes, and about my hands. I had a great workout today. We'll see."  [see more...]
• In Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin, the National Champion Florida Gators had two dual threats: Tebow as a runner and passer and Harvin as a runner and receiver. They still have Tebow for next season, but Harvin is taking his explosiveness to the next level. As a sophomore in 2007, the speedy wideout caught 59 passes for 858 yards and four touchdowns. On the ground he had 83 carries for 764 yards and six touchdowns. After two games of this past season, the oft-injured Harvin said he was feeling the best he ever had and as such the Florida coaches were about to "cut him loose." Unfortunately an ankle injury crippled Harvin's second half of his 2008 campaign.   [see more...]
• Outstanding athleticism...Good size and bulk...Real cut with a strong, muscular build...Excellent speed and quickness...Great acceleration with a burst...Has soft, reliable hands...Good ball skills and body control...Extremely elusive and is a terror in space...Nice balance and agility...Terrific vision and instincts...Can get vertical and separate...Is not afraid to work the middle...Has the ability to break tackles...Tough and competitive...Hard worker...Offers a lot of versatility...Big upside.  [see more...]
• In 2007, Harvin started 10 of the 11 games he appeared in, sitting out vs. South Carolina and Florida Atlantic due to a sinus infection and migraine headaches. He was limited in fall camp by an Achilles tendon strain and left the Mississippi State clash with a hip pointer. Still, he amassed 1,622 all-purpose yards, grabbing 59 passes for 858 yards and four touchdowns. He rushed for 764 yards and six scores on 83 attempts. In the Vanderbilt game, he became the first player in school history to total 100 yards rushing (113) and 100 yards receiving (110) in the same contest.
  
  Harvin earned All-American honors as a specialist in 2008. He started 11 games, sitting out the SEC title game due to a right ankle sprain that he suffered during a mid-season contest vs. Arkansas. He had missed spring and fall drills after undergoing April surgery to correct a right heel problem from his high school days. He would manage 644 yards and seven touchdowns on 40 receptions and 660 yards on 70 carries (9.4 avg) that produced 10 more scores.  [see more...]
• Harvin's strengths are his athleticism, speed, and versatility. Harvin can lineup in multiple positions on the field and because of his speed and elusiveness he can make big plays at any given time. He has good hands and outstanding focus to be able to make plays from the backfield, split out wide, or from the slot.  [see more...]
• Harvin was an impact player for Florida, not only as a receiver but as a return man. He also has more rushing yards than any wideout in Gators history. His versatility as a receiver, slot man, tailback and return man will make him a weapon NFL coordinators will love to use--and he will create lots of matchup problems. Last week, Harvin had an excellent pro day catching the ball and running routes, solidifying him as one of the top receivers in the draft and a likely Top 15 pick.  [see more...]
• Has a rare first step with excellent short-area quickness. Gets up to top speed instantly and is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. Possesses good body control and breaks in and out of his routes cleanly. Is a natural start-and-stop athlete with an ability to consistently make a defender miss. A big-time threat after the catch.  [see more...]