Knijeah Harris, Florida: 2026 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Harris was a three-star recruit from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. in the class of 2023

My first published scouting report for the 2026 NFL Draft cycle details Florida Gators left guard Knijeah Harris. The junior is naturally sturdy with impressive power in his hands and a stout anchor. Harris is rough around the edges and clearly needs more starting experience, but he possesses top 100 potential.

I’m getting a bit of a late jump on posting my 2026 reports, but I’ve scouted a good number of Day 3 and Day 2 prospects that should provide some (hopefully) original content this summer.

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Knijeah Harris, LG Florida: 2026 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior left guard from Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Background: Harris was a three-star recruit from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. in the class of 2023. He was the No. 458 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 768 for On3. Harris was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals. He was the 209th recruit (four-star) in the nation for ESPN with an 82 grade out of 100. Harris began his high school career starting as a freshman lineman for St. Lucie West Centennial before transferring to IMG Academy. He was a MaxPreps Second Team Junior All-American in 2021. Harris received an invitation to the 2023 Under Armour All-America Game.

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: N/A

Pros: Left guard with minor experience at right guard and center, dense throughout build, massive arms, deploys a wide base, sturdy anchor, anchor to eliminate speed to power, nice power in hands, firm two-handed punch to kill the defensive tackle’s momentum, sturdy punches when on target, clear power advantage vs. edge rushers on stunts, generates some natural displacement at his size when he starts rolling downhill, big time people mover in duo, strains to turn and finish defenders on the ground, speed and movement skills at size, nice range in the run game, long strides to pull and build momentum on gap runs, arrives with force on gap pulls, stays attached to blocks on the move, enough mobility to intersect second-level players, some suddenness to quickly close ground in the run game

Cons: Penalized five times in 2024, must improve accuracy on two-handed punches, punches fall short of generating true knockback, predictable two-handed punch gets swiped, needs to replace hands quicker, awareness can be hit or miss, appears to lack instincts in pass pro, late to ID blitzes, overthinks and misses some linebacker blitzes, late to recognize stunts, lacks elite agility to recover when beaten early, ducks into blocks making him vulnerable to swims, a little top heavy, stumbles forward off some run blocks, must play with better balance when working downhill

Overview: Harris primarily plays left guard but also took a handful of snaps at right guard and center in 2023. He’s a densely built lineman despite only being listed at 316 lbs. Harris appears to sport massive arms that give him a significant length advantage against interior defensive linemen. Harris deploys a wide base in pass protection and drops an anchor most defenders struggle to break. He grinds down and eliminates speed to power rush attempts. Harris suffers from many of the technical flaws associated with one-year starters. The issues most often manifest in his hand usage. He prefers to use two-handed punches instead of independent hands and hurts himself with inaccurate or predictable strikes. The junior must develop independent hands and replace his hands quicker when defenders swipe them away. He delivers firm punches that at best generate knockback and, at worst, stall the defensive tackle’s momentum and drive their pad level up. Edge rushers or smaller linemen stunting inside lack the power to contend with Harris. The Florida native needs to develop his instincts and awareness in pass protection. This could be the defining element of his game that determines if he’s a true 2026 prospect or if he returns to school and becomes part of the 2027 class. Harris identifies stunts and blitzes late and doesn’t seem to trust his gut at times. Experience should iron out some of these flaws. However, more time in the lineup is unlikely to help with his average agility, which prevents him from recovering once the defender slips past his shoulder. In the run game, Harris generates some natural displacement with his size and play strength advantage once he begins working downhill. He’s not immune to getting stood up at the line by nose tackles. At worst, he ends up in stalemates. Harris generates significant movement on duo and down blocks, and he attempts to turn, twist, and finish defenders. His speed and movement skills are above average for his build and give him enough range to intersect second-level players consistently. Harris lacks suddenness off the line but quickly builds power with long strides to arrive with force on gap runs. He showcases some suddenness in his final steps into contact. The former high school All-American needs to play with better balance in the run game to avoid falling off blocks and losing to swim moves. He’s a little top heavy, which plays into this issue.

Overall, Harris is still developing his instincts and core elements of his technique, but he possesses the physical tools and splash plays to secure a top 100 selection in either the 2026 or 2027 draft class. He needs to emphasize developing his hand usage and awareness in pass protection to take his game to the next level in his second season as a starter.

Role & Scheme Fit: Left guard in a gap or wide zone scheme

Round Grade: Late Second to Early Third Round

Size: 6'3", 316 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 03-21-25