How did OU football's Anton Harrison become a likely early NFL Draft pick? Credit Bill Bedenbaugh

NORMAN — Anton Harrison came to OU, in part, because of Bill Bedenbaugh’s reputation as a talent developer.

Over the past decade, Bedenbaugh has churned out offensive linemen who go on to become significant NFL pieces — most notably Pro Bowlers Orlando Brown and Creed Humphrey.

Now, Harrison has a chance to give Bedenbaugh something he and the Sooners haven’t had during his tenure — a first-round NFL Draft pick on the offensive line.

“That’s one of the reasons I came here, Coach B, the track record he has and me wanting to be a part of that list,” the offensive tackle said Thursday after OU Pro Day. “I definitely see in the next level, everybody talks about it, how smart we are, how we play, things like that that Coach B teaches us and harps on every day.”

Harrison is likely to be the first Sooners’ player off the board in the NFL Draft, which begins April 27 in Kansas City, Mo.

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While some mock drafts have wide receiver Marvin Mims going off the board first, most have Harrison as the first OU player selected.

Since his performance in the NFL Combine, which included a 4.98 40-yard dash, Harrison has trended upward, becoming a popular choice to be taken in the first round.

If he is taken in the first round, Harrison would be the first OU offensive lineman taken in the first round since Lane Johnson was taken No. 4 overall in 2013.

“I feel pretty good,” Harrison said of his chances to go in the first round. “It’s just in God’s hands.”

Even with his combine performance, Harrison didn’t shy away from taking part in OU’s Pro Day.

“After the combine, my main thing was just focusing on bench and drills,” Harrison said.

Harrison did 24 reps on the bench press Thursday.

“I’m happy to get out here, show my athleticism and just play football and have fun with the guys one more time,” Harrison said. “I feel like I did good, showed out a little bit. Drills went good. Bench, I kinda hit my goal. I wanted to do better but that was solid for me.

Harrison didn’t come to football until late.

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“Basketball was my first love,” the now former OU offensive tackle said Thursday at the Sooners’ Pro Day. “I thought I was going to the NBA.”

But it didn’t take long before he started thinking playing in the NFL was a possibility.

Harrison, whose father played football at Ole Miss, developed into a four-star prospect in Washington, D.C., and chose the Sooners over a group of offers that included Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State among others.

He played nine games at left tackle in 2020 as a freshman, then started 12 of 13 games at the spot in 2021.

Harrison took a significant step forward last season, earning All-Big 12 honors after starting one game at right tackle and 11 games at left tackle.

The biggest adjustment Harrison has had to make in preparing for the NFL Draft has been working out of a three-point stance instead of the upright look used by the Sooners.

But even with those differences, Sooners’ offensive linemen have been able to thrive in the NFL.

Harrison said it comes down to the way Bedenbaugh teaches the game.

“Coach B’s big on me with studying the game, film, defenses, things like that,” Harrison said. “He helped me a lot since my freshman year coming in. That helps me tremendously on board work and in my meetings with coaches and scouts.

"They see how smart I am in the film room and on the board, and that comes a lot from Coach B, him teaching us from first day in and always being in the film room, studying your playbook, things like that.”

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Anton Harrison thanks Bill Bedenbaugh for NFL Draft shot