Third round 79th overall pick, outside linebacker Eli Harold from the Virginia Cavaliers

A student at the University of Virginia (UVA), linebacker Eli Harold attended Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he oscillated between the positions of defensive end, quarterback, running back and wide receiver.

While playing with the Ocean Lakes Dolphins, Sports Illustrated awarded him honorable mention All-American, he was named a first-team All-Tidewater pick, named Beach District Defensive Player of the Year and named to the first-team All-District selection. Additionally, in 2012, he was chosen to play in and captain a team in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. During this time, he also won several awards running track for the Dolphins.

ESPN and Rivals.com both listed Harold as a four-star recruit and Scout.com as a five-star recruit and No.1 OL prospect in the nation. He held the ranks of No. 1, No. 5 and No. 50 as overall player in Virginia, overall defensive end nationwide and overall Rivals prospect respectively. ESPN ranked him as 15th defensive end nationwide and assigned him a scouts grade of 80 points.

At UVA, he was named Touchdown Club of Richmond’s Defensive Lineman of the Year, All-ACC second-team, All ACC-Coaches second-team, Phil Steele preseason third team All-ACC and Athlon Sports preseason second-team All-ACC, among several other distinctions.

In December of 2014, Harold announced his decision to forgo his senior season at UVA, instead opting to enter the 2015 NFL Draft, in which he was chosen by in the third round by the 49ers. After his three seasons at UVA, two of which he was a starter, he holds 141 tackles, 17.5 sacks and two interceptions.