ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

ASU’s N’Keal Harry ranked in ESPN’s 2019 NFL first-round prospects

Aug 15, 2018, 6:56 PM

Arizona State wide receiver N'Keal Harry, right, makes the catch in front of Arizona cornerback Lor...

Arizona State wide receiver N'Keal Harry, right, makes the catch in front of Arizona cornerback Lorenzo Burns during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov 25, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Arizona 42-30. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Arizona State Sun Devils aren’t projected to win many games in the Pac-12 South, but they arguably have their best offensive weapon of the past decade.

Local product N’Keal Harry was seen as a potential NFL prospect the second you saw him rise for a catch at 6-foot-4 and over 210 pounds.

In his junior year, he is certainly on the radar.

ESPN’s Todd McShay ranked his top 32 NFL prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft and placed Harry at No. 18.

A big target with good body control, Harry will go and get it for you, and he consistently rewards his quarterback for throwing him 50-50 balls. Even at 6-4, he’s a threat after the catch and regularly runs right through contact. Not a flyer, he’s still a dangerous deep threat.

After a strong sophomore campaign, Harry will look to have his true breakout junior year to firmly lock himself into the first round.

Last year Harry caught 82 balls for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 13.9 yards per catch. He ranked 12th in the country in receptions.

If Harry was selected in the NFL Draft, he would be the first ASU wideout taken since Devin Lucien was picked by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

ASU, though, has not had a wide receiver chosen in the first two rounds of the draft since Aaron Cox was selected 20th overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 1988.

Harry is rated as the second-best skill position prospect, trailing Stanford running back Bryce Love, who ranked No. 14. Harry’s competition for being the first receiver off the board early on comprises of Ole Miss’ A.J. Brown (19th), South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel (28th) and Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown (30th).

McShay’s top five preseason NFL Draft prospects are Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa, Michigan defensive end Rashan Gray and the Clemson defensive tackle duo of Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins.

Arizona State Football

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham reacts during the second half of the team's NCAA college footb...

Vincent DeAngelis

Kenny Dillingham talks Jaden Rashada injury, revamped roster ahead of spring ball

ASU football coach Kenny Dillingham addressed quarterback Jaden Rashada's injury, revamped roster and NIL ahead of start of spring ball

6 days ago

Jaden Rashada on the football field...

Arizona Sports

Report: ASU’s Jaden Rashada dealing with thumb injury, will miss spring ball

ASU's Jaden Rashada won't be a full participant in spring ball due to a thumb injury on his throwing hand suffered earlier in the year.

7 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: What is Bobby Hurley’s future at Arizona State?

On the latest State of the Sun Devil podcast the guys react to the end of men's basketball season, and wonder what the future of the program will be and how the offseason will unfold. Plus, reactions to football's pro day.

13 days ago

ASU football field...

Dan Bickley

Arizona State reaches rock bottom at end of Pac-12 stay

Rock bottom is mostly a metaphor, a cliché for sports teams that have fallen and can’t get up. But you can find it on the map at ASU.

13 days ago

Michael Crow, Arizona State University president...

Kevin Zimmerman

Now would be a good time for Arizona State to hire an athletic director

Who's to make a decision on Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley without an athletic director? Michael Crow must make a decision soon.

14 days ago

ASU QB Drew Pyne...

Arizona Sports

Former ASU starting QB Drew Pyne headed to Missouri

After playing in just two games in his ASU football career, quarterback Drew Pyne is moving on to the Missouri Tigers.

18 days ago

ASU’s N’Keal Harry ranked in ESPN’s 2019 NFL first-round prospects