TAMPA, Fla. — After being drafted 27th overall by the Jaguars this summer, offensive lineman Anton Harrison has made an immediate impact, starting every game this season while trying to still find his footing early in his NFL career.
"For me, I feel like it's been a roller coaster," said Harrison.
1st-round draft pick Anton Harrison had no time to settle in as the Jaguars did not waste a single moment throwing the rookie into the lineup.
"When I first started, it was all fast and all new. Now, I feel like I'm here and it's just slower now, and I really know what I'm doing. Knowing the game and defenses and things like that," said Harrison.
"You know, as a rookie right tackle, listen, he's faced a lot of great defensive ends this year, and he's gotten better each week. And each week, he settles in," said Jaguars' head coach Dough Pederson.
With everything moving extremely fast for the former Oklahoma Sooner, he relied on his vets for invaluable lessons.
"Definitely more off the field than on the field. Just trying to take care of your body. How to study. Things like that. It's definitely things that I've taken most from those guys because they've been doing it at a high level," said Harrison. "So, I want to mimic them and do that so I can improve my game."
Harrison struggled early in the season as he had an average Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade of 35.9% over the first two games.
But the hardships have paid off recently and prepared him to balance playing in several different lineups due to injuries to the front-5.
"Obviously, I feel like it's going to be challenging with new guys in and out. But, I feel like this group, how close we are, it makes it easier," said Harrison. "All five got to be in sync. And we practice a lot. We practice in different groups and things a lot, so it's never really foreign when we get out there on Sundays."
Harrison has played the 8th most snaps among the NFL's offensive linemen, allowing five sacks, and has caused six penalties with three games remaining in the regular season.