Sure Mitch Trubisky, Jordan Howard, Leonard Floyd, Akiem Hicks and Cody Whitehair all go into 2017 with a ton of buzz about them. Not to mention recent additions like Jaye Howard and Victor Cruz. Even they bring that elusive “low-risk-high-reward” sort of intrigue. Crazy as it sounds though, there is another name who quietly has the Bears coaching staff anxious to get things going. His name is Roy Robertson-Harris.
For those who don’t remember, the young man was an undrafted free agent out of UTEP in 2016. Originally the team planned to slot him at outside linebacker. His mixture of length and athleticism were hard to ignore. Not to mention one of the most impressive downfield tackles to save a touchdown highlights in recent history.
6'6" 260 lbs Roy Robertson Harris (UTEP DE/OLB) runs down AP All American RB Larry Rose III #teamEMG 🏃💨💨💨 pic.twitter.com/Vtb2btAshJ
— Brandon M. Taylor (@brandonEMG) April 1, 2016
Unfortunately his rookie year was cut short. It wasn’t entirely clear why he ended up on the illness/non-football injury list. Time has revealed it was in fact related to heat exhaustion due to his summer training in Houston, Texas. Despite flashing in preseason the illness lingered so the Bears decided to redshirt him for 2016.
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Roy Robertson-Harris is bigger, stronger and more comfortable
Not only that but the coaches have since decided to alter their original plan for him. Rather than try molding him into a linebacker, they decided to move him to defensive end. This was something he did at school, though the scheme was different. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune revealed he began a training regimen to add more bulk and better handle his nutrition.
The results seen thus far are generating some excitement.
“The former UTEP Miner came in at 6-foot-7, 265 pounds last year, and a season spent lifting weights has filled out his frame to a rock-solid 285, too big to be an outside linebacker. He played on the line in college, so it’s not a completely new position with OTAs underway and minicamp a little more than two weeks away.
He returned to the Chicago area in March to begin training before the voluntary offseason program started and will remain here in June and July to avoid the heat and humidity in Texas. Robertson-Harris needs to open eyes when the pads go on in camp to work his way up the depth chart.
“We got that (illness) under wraps,” coach John Fox said. “He’s gained a lot of bulk and strength. I like what I’ve seen from him thus far, both in offseason conditioning as well as the immediate practice work.”
DL footwork drills done by #Bears DL Roy Robertson-Harris (@iam_robharris; #UTEP)
Vid by @camnwosu. Follow him! pic.twitter.com/MJYStOezK5
— DLineVids (@DLineVids) February 28, 2017
It’s no secret the guy is an athletic freak. If he can get strong enough to handle regular 3-4 end duties like stopping the run, he can turn into something. His potential remains very high. Remember he was rated a fifth round pick before the draft last year. This was despite his relative inexperience and coming from a small program. If nothing else it’s another reason to watch the preseason this August. This Bears defense is getting interesting.
