Nick Daschel is a veteran sports writer and columnist who has worked on the West coast for nearly three decades. Nick has covered the Pac-10 for about 15 years, primarily focusing on the Northwest schools.
Note: With the NFL draft approaching later in April, we thought it would fun to look back at the Pac-10’s top draft picks of the past decade (2000-09) and see where we would pick them. Continuing today and ending sometime close to the draft on April 25, we’ll count down a first round worth of Pac-10 draft picks, from 32 to 1. The list includes five quarterbacks, five running backs, five defensive linemen, six linebackers, three defensive backs, three wide receivers, three offensive linemen and two tight ends.
21. KWAME HARRIS, STANFORD, OL
The last time Stanford played in a bowl game was 2001. It was also one of the two years the Cardinal had Kwame Harris starting on its offensive line.
Coincidence? We think not. This big boy was as good as Stanford has had as an offensive tackle, a monsterous 6-foot-7, 320-pounder who won the Pac-10’s Morris Trophy winner as the league’s top offensive lineman. There’s no telling what sort of national awards Harris could have merited had he stuck around for his senior year. Being a smart Stanford kid who knows what college is about ‑ learning how to make a living ‑ Harris left school early with millions waiting for him as the 26th pick of the 2003 NFL draft.
Harris was a road grader in the running game, and an adequate pass blocker. The Cardinal didn’t have a running back among the Pac-10’s top five in rushing yardage, yet easily led the league in rushing offense at 201 yards per game.
It’s hard to say how high Harris would have been taken in the NFL draft with the typical five-year college resume for a lineman. Harris had the buzz of “upside” heading into the draft because of his short three-year Stanford career and better-than-average athleticism. Harris’ pro career has been a mixed bag. Harris spent five years with San Francisco before Oakland signed him to a three-year, $16 million contract a year ago. That deal was shortlived as the Raiders cut Harris for salary cap reasons in February, but he is not expected to last on the unemployment line.
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