He’s quietly been one of the more productive running backs in the ACC over the past two years, but does Miami RB Cam’Ron Harris have a similarly strong 2022 NFL Draft scouting report? Numbers matter without a doubt, but what matters more is how players earn those numbers. Is Harris’ production hollow, or is his mode of success sustainable at the NFL level?
Cam’Ron Harris NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Running Back
- School: Miami
- Current Year: Senior
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 210 pounds
Cam’Ron Harris Scouting Report
Miami Hurricanes running backs just have a habit of making it to the NFL. In a six-year span from 1999 to 2005, Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Clinton Portis, and Hall of Famer Edgerrin James were all drafted from the halls of the Hurricanes. Six years after 2006, another eventual Pro Bowler – Lamar Miller – entered the league as well.
Miami hasn’t generated as much production since that golden age, but they’ve still maintained a steady pipeline. Since 2013, Hurricanes RBs Mike James, Duke Johnson, Mark Walton, Travis Homer, and DeeJay Dallas have all been drafted. Running backs just keep multiplying from Miami Gardens. Can Harris be next in line?
Cam’Ron Harris’ athletic profile
Harris stands at around 5’10”, 210 pounds. Within his compact frame, he carries a lot of exciting traits. Harris has explosive short-area burst, and he’s a sudden lateral mover as well. He has exceptional elusiveness and lateral agility, and that suddenness allows him to create space in tight quarters.
The Miami RB can divert course quickly, as his loose hips enable him to change directions with ease. That capacity even shows up in his route running at times.
Harris’ explosiveness expands into wider spaces as well. He accelerates around the corner and stretches short outside runs. He can also find the open field quickly with a clean lane. Harris stretches the field and takes runs to the house with his long speed. He explodes out of direction changes, carries his energy into his next moves, and is extremely shifty in space.
Overall, Harris has exceptional twitch and energy. But beyond that, his explosiveness and density can cultivate good artificial power, and he flashes impressive vertical leaping ability and body control as well.
Execution beyond the physical traits
Harris’ high-energy style underpins a lot of his production. However, the Miami RB channels his physical traits through impressive fundamental structure. Harris shows smooth footwork at the line, and he can quickly recognize cutback lanes with his vision. He has the awareness and agility to cut back inside while on the sideline, and he also shrinks himself to squeeze through tight lanes.
Harris knows how to manage spacing at the line to keep his options open, but he has some appeal even in congestion. The Miami RB isn’t an upright runner. He sinks his hips and lowers his center of gravity, affording him better balance and leverage. He possesses some measured contact balance and recovery athleticism, and his frame density gives him some natural resistance against contact.
What ties Harris’ game together, however, might be his mentality. He’s not a traditional bruiser by any means, but he still brings excellent effort and energy as a runner. He can be aggressive and persistent, and that translates to plenty of potential at multiple levels.
Areas for improvement
Relative to his production, Harris has a strong NFL Draft scouting report. Having said that, his game doesn’t always match up with his frame. Harris has stellar elusiveness and mobility, but the power element isn’t completely there for the 210-pound back.
Harris doesn’t always have the strength to shrug off tackles, nor does he carry a great deal of mass when lowering his shoulder. He’s not always powerful enough to withstand initial contact in the backfield, and he sometimes works his way backwards when he encounters resistance at the line. This can lead to negative plays for the offense.
Harris’ contact balance, while present, is not elite. Furthermore, he won’t consistently punch his way through at the goal line. Harris’ frame density suggests greater power capacity, and he has flashed in that regard. Nevertheless, the Miami RB needs to showcase that element with more consistency.
Among other things, Harris sometimes struggles with indecisiveness, both when cutting upfield and when choosing lanes at the line. Moreover, while Harris is a capable receiver out of the backfield, he’s not a proven YAC threat. He can more consistently use his traits in the passing game.
Cam’Ron Harris’ NFL Draft scouting report overview
Cam’Ron can run. There’s no doubting that. With his explosiveness, agility, and vision, Harris can be a great yardage creator. And with his frame density, he also has the size to potentially be a three-down player at the NFL level. He’s capable of making at least one defender miss on any given play.
Nevertheless, Harris’ upside depends on whether he can more consistently utilize power elements at his size and whether he can prove his mettle as a receiving back. He’s shown flashes in both categories, but attaining consistency is the key to earning a starting role. If he does that, he can be a No. 1 back in an NFL offense.
Cam’Ron Harris’ Player Profile
Hailing from Carol City High School in Miami, Florida, Harris always had an eye on the Hurricanes. The hometown kid grew up in the golden age, when standouts like James, McGahee, Portis, and Gore tore up the NFL. So, when Harris himself became a legitimate college football prospect, Miami was high on his list.
Harris was a four-star recruit in the 2018 class. Ranked as the 167th overall player in the class and the ninth-best RB, Harris received offers from schools like Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others.
Nevertheless, the Hurricanes offered Harris as well, and they ultimately drew his services — with Harris eager to carry on their legacy.
Harris’ career at Miami
Harris was a little lighter coming into college, but he still boasted impressive physical traits. With a 4.5 40-yard dash and a 31.4-inch vertical jump on record, Harris had the tools to earn early reps at running back.
As a true freshman in 2018, Harris logged 166 yards and 2 touchdowns on 28 carries, with a 77-yard performance against Virginia Tech. That showing proved to be a sign of things to come, as Harris upped his production in 2019. In that season, he carried the ball 114 yards for 546 yards and 5 touchdowns.
2020 saw a slight increase for Harris, but he ultimately shared carries with Donald Chaney Jr. Still, Harris found success, accumulating 643 yards and 10 touchdowns on 126 attempts. The Miami RB also tacked on 131 receiving yards and an additional touchdown on 18 catches.
Cam’Ron Harris’ NFL Draft ascension
The running back position has undergone a transformation of sorts in recent years. NFL teams are slowly trending away from workhorse running backs and toward deeper RB stables. Thus, projecting roles for NFL Draft prospects like Harris has become increasingly difficult.
Yet, Harris’ profile should translate well into this changing NFL landscape. Harris has enough size to take on increased workloads, and he also has the burst, elusiveness, vision, and creative capacity to produce — so long as he’s behind a stable offensive line. Harris has Day 2 upside, and in that range, he can become a valuable offensive playmaker.
Tony Pauline’s Scouting Report for Cam’Ron Harris
Positives: Patient back with good instincts who is best running between the tackles. Waits for blocks to develop, displays good footwork in a small area, and moves fluidly. Finds the running lanes, effectively uses blocks, and works runs. Effective pass catcher when he extends to make the reception away from his frame.
Negatives: Primarily a downhill ball carrier who cannot turn the corner. Not creative and doesn’t make defenders miss or improvise. Unnecessarily lets the pass get inside him too often and isn’t a natural receiver out of the backfield.
Analysis: Harris is a well-built running back with the ability to pick up the tough yardage, yet he’s coming off injury. He was never overly productive for Miami and does not project all that well to the next level.