Tyson Harley

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-4, 215 lbs. Taller than 54% and heavier than 10% of 2026 Edge Rusher prospects in the SEC Scouts database (169 with a listed size).

Play Style

A speed-to-length edge who wins early in the rep. He attacks the tackle's outside shoulder, uses his reach to keep blockers off his frame, and closes quickly once he turns the corner. He is most dangerous in obvious passing situations and when chasing plays from the backside. Against the run he is better as a pursuer and edge-setter by alignment than as a take-on defender, and bigger blockers can move him when they get square. He plays with good effort and is comfortable standing up, which gives defensive coordinators flexibility to use him as a rush OLB or on simulated pressures.

Strengths

• Production as a pass rusher: as a junior in 2024 he had 30 tackles, 11 TFL and 6 sacks in only 6 games (other reports credit him with 15 TFL and 8 sacks for the season), earning one of three All-WCAC selections in the nation's toughest Catholic league
• Long arms and quick get-off let him win the edge before tackles set, and his length lets him keep blockers off his chest and reach the quarterback or ball carrier
• Moves well for a rusher: he changes direction smoothly, can bend and flatten toward the quarterback, and has enough range to drop, spy or pursue backside from a two-point stance (ESPN evaluated him as an OLB)
• Plays well against top competition: he produced opposite five-star Carter Meadows on a Gonzaga front that sees heavy WCAC talent every week, so he rarely got single-teamed by accident

Areas to Improve

• Play strength and anchor: at about 220 in high school he can get washed out by down blocks and double teams, and he needs a full strength-and-conditioning cycle to play the run on early downs
• Pass-rush plan beyond speed: he needs to develop a reliable power counter (long-arm, bull-convert) and inside moves so that tackles who kick-slide deep can't simply ride him past the pocket
• Hand usage and block shedding: he must turn his length into consistent first-contact wins and quicker disengagement instead of relying on get-off

College Projection

Most likely a redshirt candidate or rotational situational pass rusher in 2026 at Virginia Tech (roster: DL, #27), where he can play in up to four games while adding weight. His realistic window to push for meaningful snaps is 2027 as a third-down rusher, and he projects as a starter or high-volume rotation edge by 2028 if he settles around 255-260 with his quickness intact. Franklin's staff recruited him at Penn State and then again at Virginia Tech, which suggests they have a long-term development plan for him.

NFL Outlook

Day 3 / priority free-agent profile at present, with upside beyond that. His length, get-off and change of direction are traits NFL teams draft on, but at his current mass he projects as a situational rusher. If he adds 30-plus pounds of functional weight and develops a power counter by his third or fourth college season, he could become a mid-round edge prospect in a 3-4 OLB mold. If he stays under about 245, he is more of a special-teams and sub-package developmental player.

Best Fit

A multiple or 3-4 front that uses stand-up edges and wide alignments and has a patient strength program that allows a redshirt development year. Virginia Tech under Franklin fits well, since that staff has already committed to developing him twice. He is less suited to a 4-3 system that needs a 270-pound strong-side end to set the edge from day one.