TE Harold Fannin Jr. (4.25.25)
Hi, Harold. Are you in Canton (Ohio) right now and what do you think about getting to play in Northeast Ohio?
“Yeah, man, I’m in Canton right now as we speak. I mean, growing up in Northeast Ohio, I’m definitely excited. You know, big Browns family around, so, you know they’re all excited as well.”
Do you just really like orange and brown as your colors?
“Yeah, yeah. You got to, especially at Bowling Green.”
Your best games last season were against the biggest opponents, Penn State, Texas A&M. Kind of describe just the way you kind of elevated your game and how much does that show NFL scouts and the Browns specifically what you’re capable of at this level?
“Yeah, I mean, pretty much. It kind of just shows NFL teams that I can do it against bigger opponents. It ain’t just like, I’m just doing against smaller teams. I can do it against the bigger teams as well.”
You set so many school records and FBS records in so many different areas. How do you feel like your versatility is going to be able to translate here with the Browns and in the NFL?
“Yeah, I feel like the way my playstyle is, I’m able to move around a lot, do a lot of different things, kind of just really open the playbook up a little bit just because obviously I can play out of position a little bit.”
How much time have you spent watching David Njoku, what you think of his game, and what you think about coming into a tight end room with him?
“To be honest, I never really watched any tight ends. I’ve never watched David Njoku. I probably watched a few of his games here and there, but obviously I’m very excited to be in the same room as him. I heard he’s a dawg, know he’s a dawg.”
How did playing in a pro style system under Coach (Scot) Loeffler help prepare you for the NFL?
“I definitely will say, you know, just because Coach Loeffler is like an NFL type of guy. I already have the feel for, like, the plays and stuff like that, and I feel like it should be an okay transition when it comes to plays and stuff like that. And, you know, the way he coaches and things like that.”
How does your defensive background from McKinley (High School) kind of affect how you play tight end? How did it shape you and what was that transition like?
“Yeah, like you said, I used to played defensive back, so I kind of got an idea of running routes or whatever. Just kind of know what makes a DB so uncomfortable and stuff like that. Just because I play it myself, obviously, I know it makes me feel uncomfortable. So I kind of just know what the DB doesn’t want you to do. I kind of, like, already know how that feels, and I kind of think about, what if I was guarding myself? How would I make moves when it comes to route running and stuff like that.”
How do you reflect on it and how special was it to have a season that a lot of people say was the best in the history of college football for a tight end?
“I mean, I’ll definitely say I’m very blessed. I mean, obviously I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and stuff like that. My coach was setting me up. But yeah, definitely just blessed and lucky enough to do something like that.”
How much did your games against Texas Tech and Penn State put you on the map, do you think?
“I guess it really did put me on the map just because I was low ranked. I mean I never was a hyped-up guy. So, when I kind of had sets like that and put stuff like that on tape, its kind of really opened doors for me.”
You said you don’t spend a lot of time watching tight ends. I’m just kind of curious, though. Is there somebody that you grew up admiring and wanting to be like as a player?
“Yeah. So, being in Northeast Ohio, my brother’s actually a (Pittsburgh) Steelers fan, so I used to watch Le’Veon Bell a lot. And that’s back when I was younger and I used to play running back, but that’s who I pretty much grew up watching.”
How special is it to you at every level now to call Ohio home from high school to college to now in the NFL?
“Yeah, I mean, it’s definitely a blessing. I mean, it’s kind of always close to home, but I guess that’s a plus. I mean, I never would have expected it to be like this, but you know obviously, I’m just happy with that and everything coming up.”
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