What the Vikings can expect from Harrison Hand in 2020
By Adam Carlson
The Good
Harrison Hand is a cornerback who passes the eye test. He possesses the height, frame, and arm length that makes him an ideal player to develop into a defensive contributor through great coaching, hard work, and experience.
There are plenty of other traits the Minnesota Vikings and their fans should like about Hand. Here are some of the best qualities he has to offer the team according to CBS Sports and NFL.com.
A good nose for the football
When it comes to bringing down ball carriers, Hand has a good instinct for tracking down ball-carriers and meeting them with impact. In his three years at Baylor and Temple, he racked up 114 tackles in 31 games with 5.5 of those being for a loss.
Avoids penalties
Hand doesn’t get frustrated when he gets matched up against a physical receiver or in jump ball situations. Instead of getting handsy and losing his temper, he stays level headed and makes plays on the ball.
Solid ball-hawking skills
During his two years and 19 games at Baylor, Hand defended 11 passes with one interception. That ratio got more impressive during his final year with Temple where he defended five passes with three interceptions, proving he does have some playmaking ability when opportunities arise.
Improvement over time
In 2019, Hand notched college career highs in tackles, tackles for a loss, interceptions, pass defenses, and forced fumbles. He could continue to grow and develop under a solid coaching staff in Minnesota, even if he starts on special teams or the practice squad.