Rookie Profile - Week 5

  Posted 10/6 by Jeff Tefertiller, Exclusive for Footballguys.com

Player: Percy Harvin

College: Florida

Drafted: 1st round, 22nd overall

College Stats

College Highlights

2006 - Freshman Year

Harvin made his collegiate debut on September 2 2006 against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. Harvin caught three passes for 33 yards and carried the ball four times for a team-leading 58 yards. Harvin's second game was on September 9 against the University of Central Florida Golden Knights. He caught four passes for a total of 99 yards, including a 58 yard touchdown pass. He also ran for 11 yards on two carries. Harvin saw limited action in the third and fourth games of his career at Florida. Against the University of Tennessee Volunteers on September 16, 2006, Harvin had one catch for 12 yards and one rush for 13 yards. He was injured in this game in the second quarter and thus played very little for the rest of the game and in the next week. Against the Kentucky Wildcats on September 23, Harvin had only one rush for 2 yards. He did not play in the game against the University of Alabama. Percy played very little in the game against LSU but returned to the lineup in the game against Auburn. Harvin continued his sporadically sensational freshman season, rushing for a 42 yard touchdown against rival Florida State. However, Harvin suffered a neck sprain and was taken off the field on a stretcher. Percy returned the next week for the SEC Championship Game against Arkansas and was spectacular, catching five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. He also ran six times for a team high 105 yards, including a 67 yard touchdown run. With that performance, Harvin won game MVP. Harvin finished off his freshman season with a win in the National Championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, 41-14. Harvin lined up at quarterback numerous times, and was a factor in both the run game and the pass game. Harvin had 22 yards rushing, 60 yards receiving, and a rushing touchdown. Despite his injury plagued freshman season, Harvin was awarded SEC College Freshman of the year.

2007 - Sophomore Year

Percy Harvin entered the 2007 season as the starting receiver for the Florida Gators. In the first game of the season, a 49-3 victory over Western Kentucky, Harvin recorded 3 receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown. In the 59-31 victory over Troy, Harvin grabbed 3 receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 56 yards on four carries. In the 59-20 victory over Tennessee, Percy Harvin contributed greatly to the victory with his 120 yards on four receptions and 75 rushing yards with a touchdown. The next victory, a 30-24 contest against Mississippi, Harvin grabbed 11 passes for 121 yards and a score. In the first loss of the season, 17-20 to Auburn, Harvin recorded 119 yards on 7 receptions. The game marked his third-consecutive 100-yard receiving game. The next game, a 24-28 loss to LSU, Harvin only recorded 69 total yards. However, in the 45-37 victory over Kentucky, Harvin recorded 97 total yards and a rushing touchdown. In the 30-42 loss to Georgia, Harvin only had 41 receiving yards but contributed with 97 rushing yards on 10 carries. Harvin's best game of the season, statistically, was the next game against Vanderbilt in the victory, when he recorded 110 receiving yards on 9 receptions and 11 rushes for 113 yards and two rushing scores. After missing the South Carolina and Florida Atlantic victories with a sinus infection, Harvin returned with a 16 rush, 157 yard performance with a rushing touchdown against Florida State in the 45-12 victory. In the Capital One Bowl loss to University of Michigan, 35-41, Percy Harvin grabbed 9 receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown, also rushing for 165 yards and a score. The game marked his third consecutive contest with 100+ yards rushing. Percy Harvin finished the season with 858 yards on 59 receptions for 4 touchdowns. He also totaled 764 yards on 83 rushes for 6 touchdowns. Harvin totaled 1,622 total yards and 10 touchdowns on the season, becoming the first receiver in school history to have over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in a career. Harvin earned All-Southeastern Conference first team honors as an all-purpose player, while earning second team honors as a receiver.

Percy was named to the preseason All-American list and to the Heisman Trophy contenders list in March 2008.

2008 - Junior Year

Early in his junior season, Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer officially announced his position had changed from wide receiver to running back. However, Percy Harvin continued to line up as a receiver for the Gators on a part time basis. In fact, he was more of a full time receiver than a running back.

Harvin had issues with injuries throughout his three-year career at the University of Florida, his ankle causing him the most problems. In his junior season, he missed the first game against Hawaii due to a high ankle sprain and also suffered a second during the Florida-FSU game on November 29. This injury prevented him from playing in the SEC Championship on December 6, in which the Gators defeated Alabama 31-20. Going into the BCS National Championship game against Oklahoma, Harvin had totaled 35 receptions for 595 yards and seven touchdowns, as well as 61 rushes for 538 yards and 9 touchdowns. In the BCS National Championship game, he accounted for nine carries for 122 yards with a touchdown, and five catches for 49 yards, playing on the injured ankle. Urban Meyer stated the day after the game that Harvin had suffered a hairline fracture in his lower right leg in addition to the high ankle sprain. He declared for the 2009 NFL draft after his junior season.

On January 15, 2009, Harvin announced he would forgo his remaining college eligibility and participate in the 2009 NFL Draft. Harvin finished his college career as one of the most prolific offensive threats in school history. In three seasons, he totaled 133 catches for 1,929 yards and 13 touchdowns, while rushing the ball 194 times for 1,852 yards with 19 touchdowns. His 32 career touchdowns is the most ever by a University of Florida wide receiver. He averaged an astounding 9.5 yards per carry as a running back and averaged 11.6 yards overall (running back, receiver, return man). He is the only player in UF history to rush for 100 yards and have 100 yards receiving in the same game (Vanderbilt, 2007).
NFL Combine

In February 2009, Harvin tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Combine. Some teams reportedly removed him from their potential draft rosters. However, his performance at the combine and his ability to play several positions counterbalanced the reported character issues.

Predraft Measurables

From wikipedia.org.

2009 Production To Date

For the season, Harvin has been productive in a variety of ways. He was caught 14 balls for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Harvin has also carried the ball five times for 28 yards. In addition, he has 410 yards on kick returns, including the long touchdown against the 49ers in week three.

Best Game To Date

It is difficult to say which game was Harvin's best of the season. He scored in each of the first three games of the season. Week three was the contest Harvin made the biggest impact. He caught four Brett Favre passes for 51 yards. The rookie added the long kickoff return to help the Vikings. Minnesota needed every point in the hard-fought contest. This was the game of the miracle pass from Favre to Greg Lewis with just seconds remaining. Harvin can beat you in many different ways.

Situation In 2009

Percy Harvin lines up all over the field on offense. He catches passes, runs reverses and returns kicks. Harvin is a big play player that opposing teams must address. This is why the Vikings will run fake reverses to open up running lanes for Adrian Peterson. For this season, Harvin will continue to be used in a myriad of roles ... all to take advantage of his ability. Harvin will not catch many passes, but has the potential to score several touchdowns in several situations. He will play receiver with Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice also on the field. Harvin's speed does open things up for others. All three receivers are good after the catch. Defenses have a tough time containing Harvin and the other receivers, with Adrian Peterson in the backfield.

Long-term Situation

The Vikings drafted Harvin to be a weapon in a variety of ways. The team does not have a lot of talent or depth at the receiver position so he is assured to be a starter for a long time, as long as he can remain healthy. The recent bout of migraine headaches is nothing new to Harvin, who has battled migraines for many years. It is something to keep an eye on. He also has been nicked up throughout his collegiate and professional career. But, make no mistake, Percy Harvin is a very talented wide receiver that will make big plays for the Vikings as long as he can remain healthy. Also, with Brett Favre nearing the age of dirt, it will be interesting to see how Minnesota addresses the the quarterback position in the long run. Obviously, Harvin's upside is much higher with a quarterback not named Tarvaris Jackson under center.

Potential Upside

Harvin has the potential to be a once in a generation player. He has tremendous ability as a returner, as well as a receiver and rusher. Harvin also is a huge asset when the Vikings line up in unusual formations. At Florida, he was a threat with the ball in his hands, in all circumstances. It is in this way that Minnesota will utilize the skill set of the multidimensional Harvin. He may end up being a better NFL player than in fantasy, but his upside is still as a Top 20 fantasy receiver. The former Gator has speed and elusiveness to make big plays in the open field.

College Profile from NFL.com

Positives: Shorter than scouts would like, but has a strong, compact build. Rare straight-line speed. Rare elusiveness. Can make defenders miss in tight quarters. Good vision when running in space. Sets up his blocks well and can cut back against the grain. Good agility as a route-runner. Strong, secure hands for the reception. Courageous going over the middle. Gathers in the pass and quickly moves upfield to maximize production. Can extend outside of his frame to make the spectacular reception. Versatile athlete who can contribute as a receiver, running back and shows great potential as a returner, although he never attempted a kick or punt return at Florida. Has struggled with durability, but is considered a physically tough player.

Negatives: Looks shorter on film than his listed 5-11. Many of his plays in this offense were slip screens designed to get him the ball quickly and in space. Could struggle acclimating to a more prostyle offense. Lack of success at the NFL level from former receivers from Meyer's offense is troubling. Has struggled with durability. Missed practice time in 2008 with ankle, hip pointer and tendinitis in his knee and heel.

Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.

Keep An Eye On

Mohamed Massaquoi

Mohamed Massaquoi had a monster game against the Bengals in week five. He caught eight balls for 148 yards against a very good cornerback in Leon Hall. Massaquoi was the featured target for new quarterback Derek Anderson, especially down the field. The Browns need another receiver to step up with Braylon Edwards disappointing while being the focus of opposing defenses. Massaquoi has been ahead of fellow rookie, Brian Robiskie, for the WR2 job since training camp. He gives Anderson, and his big arm, another option for the deep pass. Massaquoi was a second round pick, so this is no fluke. Playing in Cleveland will lead to inconsistency from an inept offense.