Education
Harold attended Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he was a two-sport star in both football and track.
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Eli Harold
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He played college football for the University of Virginia Cavaliers. He is considered one of the top prospects in his position. He played as a defensive end, quarterback, running back and wide receiver for the Ocean Lakes Dolphins football team
He was a SI.com honorable mention All-American.
As a senior, he totalled 78 tackles and 16 sacks on defense and had 1,146 total yards and 20 touchdowns on wildcat offense. He led the Dolphins with 41 receptions for 723 yards.
He was a first-team All-Tidewater pick. He also played in the 2012 United States. Army All-American Bowl, where he served as a team captain for the East squad.
Also an standout track & field athlete, Harold was a state qualifier in the jumping events.
At the 2009 Beach District Outdoor Track Championship, he placed 3rd in the triple jump event with a leap of 13.40 meters (43-10). He earned a second-place finish in the shot put at the 2012 Tallwood Team Challenge, recording a career-best throw of 14.01 meters (45-8). He also posted a personal-best leap of 6.68 meters (21-85) in the long jump at the 2012 District Meet, where he took first.
Recruiting
Regarded as a four-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, Harold was ranked as the Number.
1 overall player in the state of Virginia, the Number. 5 defensive end nationally and the Number.
50 overall prospect by Rivals, and the Number. 15 defensive end in the nation by Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. He also earned a scouts grade of 80 from Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. He was regarded as a five-star recruit by Scout.com, and was ranked the Number.
1 outside linebacker prospect in the nation.
In August 2011, Harold committed to the University of Virginia to play college football. Harold played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2012. He finished the year with 36 tackles two sacks and an interception.
Harold took over as a starter in 2013.
He finished the year with 51 tackles and 8.5 sacks. Harold returned as a starter his junior season in 2014.
He finished the year with 54 tackles seven sacks and one interception. Harold announced on December 10, 2014 that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2015 NFL Draft.
He finished his career with 141 tackles 17.5 sacks and two interceptions.
2015 NFL Draft
San Francisco 49ers
On May 2, 2015, Harold was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round with the 79th overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft.
