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Anthony Harris Could Be A Hidden Gem For The Minnesota Vikings

By Adam Carlson

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Before the 2015 NFL Draft, I wrote profiles on approximately 70 prospects that were coming out in the draft class.  I tried to focus on players in a position of need, which led me to focus on many players the Minnesota Vikings could have drafted.  That included the Safety position, where I wrote a positive article about Anthony Harris.

Harris went undrafted out of Virginia, but there were enough positive aspects to his game that I stated I would have been comfortable with the team looking at him in the fifth round or later of the draft.  He shows great instincts, soft hands, and a solid football IQ. Luckily, the Vikings were able to recruit him during the period of signing undrafted free agents and he signed a deal with the team.

According to a statement from Anthony Harris on the Fox Sports website, Anthony Harris chose the Minnesota Vikings because feels he has a good chance succeed in the team’s defensive scheme.

"“They’ve got great position coaches in coach (Jerry) Gray and (assistant defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon), and coach (Mike) Zimmer, a defensive-minded guy (who) works very well with defensive backs. So I felt like it was a good opportunity for me to get around some guys who’ve been in the business a long time and been very successful, and try to help improve my game.”"

Nov 1, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers safety Anthony Harris (8) is shown before their game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Georgia Tech won 35-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The structure in Minnesota is one that has already started to pay off for young defensive backs like Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith.  Those two young guys saw huge leaps in their defensive contributions during the 2015 NFL season and may be able to help Harris grow and develop in the same way.

Anthony Harris is currently dealing with a shoulder injury that is keeping him out of rookie camp, but he’s keeping a positive attitude and working hard to get his mentally prepared for football at the NFL level.

"“It’s tough, but I just have a positive attitude,” Harris said of sitting out rookie camp. “Do what I can to put myself in the best position to perform well when they tell me I’m ready to go. Right now I’m just learning as much as I can, talking to the coaches, in their pocket, taking the coaching tips not only when I’m out there watching but when they’re helping other guys out. So, I’m just trying to do what I can mentally and be ready to go when the doctors tell me to go.”"

Watch for Anthony Harris this preseason when he’s healthy and ready to play.  He could be one of the guys that isn’t getting ton of buzz, but might make a big impact on the team.  Even if he’s not able to come in and contribute during his rookie campaign, Harris is the kind of player

Next: Minnesota Vikings 2015 Game By Game Previews

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