This year’s Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State features plenty of 2020 NFL Draft prospects.
The Apple Cup is one of the most fun rivalry games to watch on rivalry weekend. The Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars have both enjoyed a lot of success this decade, so watching Chris Peterson and the Huskies battle Mike Leach and the Cougars is always a treat. It’s also a great game to watch prospects, and it should be a good one to watch 2020 NFL Draft hopefuls.
There were some top talents in the Apple Cup last season. Two tackle, Andre Dillard and Kaleb McGary, went in the first round of the 2019 draft. Huskies corner Byron Murphy went right off the board on day two, and many others from the two teams followed (most notably Gardner Minshew).
This year’s should be good as well. Let’s take a look at some prospects to watch in this one.
Nick Harris, C, Washington
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The interior offensive line class isn’t very deep at the moment and is full of question marks beyond Tyler Biadasz and Creed Humphrey. However, Nick Harris is someone to keep an eye on in this class and in this game at the center spot.
The first thing that jumps off on tape for Harris is how quick he gets out of his stance once he snaps the ball. Having that extra edge is important at the point of attack, and Harris does that very well. He’s also a great mover who can reach the second level with ease after the initial combo block. Getting to the second level is important for picking up big gains in the running game. Harris also has great play strength. When he lands his initial punch, it’s hard to beat him, but he can get beat by bigger nose tackles if he doesn’t land that initial punch. He occasionally gives up ground as a pass protector, but has good recovery and balance to keep the pocket clean.