COLUMBIA, MO. • Charles Harris didn’t have a profile on the national recruiting websites when he signed with Missouri in 2013, much less a collection of stars alongside his name.

A lanky but raw 210-pound edge rusher at Lincoln Prep in Kansas City, Harris had only played two years of organized football when Missouri assistant coach Andy Hill discovered him and offered a scholarship. Otherwise, Harris’ best options were lower-level programs at Northern Iowa, Missouri Western and Pittsburg (Kan.) State.

“If you’re going to take a risk,” Hill once said of Harris, “you want to take an athletic risk.”

Nearly four years later, Harris is taking a calculated risk that could be worth millions.

The junior announced his plans to make himself eligible for the 2017 NFL draft, becoming Mizzou’s fifth defensive lineman in seven years to enter the draft before his eligibility expired. Harris made his decision after last Friday’s season-ending win over Arkansas, he said. He’s not yet received his draft grade from the NFL draft advisory board, but after receiving a second-round grade after the 2015 season, he believes he’s making the right decision to enter the draft.

“I felt like I took advantage of all my resources here at Mizzou, which is what every student-athlete should strive to do, and I had plenty of success doing so,” he said.

Harris led the Tigers with a career-best nine sacks this season and leads all Southeastern Conference defensive linemen with 61 tackles. He ended his career seventh in school history with 18 sacks. Harris is considered a first-round prospect by several mock drafts. Pro Football Focus ranks Harris the No. 18 player available in the upcoming draft.

Missouri coach Barry Odom was out of town recruiting Thursday but issued a statement: “Certainly, I wish we could have another year with Charles leading our program, but there’s no question in my mind that he’s ready for the next level. He knew the time would come to make a decision, but his primary focus was always this team and doing what he could to make himself better and to help his teammates and coaches.

“Charles was voted as a team captain, which shows the level of competitor he is and the respect he had on this team. We’re going to miss him, no doubt, but it’s time for him to take his talents to the NFL. We’ll be beaming with pride when we turn on the TV on Sundays and see Charles out there representing Mizzou.”

Harris has narrowed his choice of agents to three candidates and will probably train for the NFL combine in Arizona, he said.

Harris is on schedule to graduate in May with a degree in health sciences and a minor in sociology. When he came to Mizzou he vowed to become the first member of his family to earn a college degree. Thursday’s announcement won’t derail those plans.

“You never know where life is going to take you,” he said. “That diploma is something that’s going to stick with you, something you worked hard for that nobody can take away from you.”

“We’re happy for him to go to the next level,” William Harris, his father, said at Thursday’s announcement. “Me, personally, I’d be happier next year when I see him get his diploma. We’re blessed and we’re happy. We don’t take it for granted.”

For the last 23 years, William Harris has worked as a truck driver based out of Kansas City. He stopped in Columbia for Thursday’s press conference in the middle of a haul that would take him to Iowa by the evening.

On Thursday he recalled his son’s decision to switch from basketball to football midway through high school, a choice that changed his course dramatically.

“I didn’t see that one coming,” William said. “Ever since he was six years old all he was doing was dribbling a ball. When he went his junior year and switched over to football, I was shocked. The rest is history. This is just a blessing.”

“Whatever team drafts him,” he added, “is going to get a good, intelligent, smart, hard-working young man, and a God-fearing young man.”

Harris becomes the fifth defensive lineman to leave Mizzou early since 2011, following Aldon Smith (first round, 2011, San Francisco), Sheldon Richardson (first round, 2013 New York Jets), Kony Ealy (second round, 2014, Carolina Panthers) and Shane Ray (first round, Denver Broncos, 2015).

Since Harris arrived on campus, the Tigers also have produced defensive line draft picks Michael Sam (seventh round, 2014, St. Louis Rams) and Markus Golden (second round, 2015, Arizona Cardinals).

“I had some great leaders in front of me,” Harris said. “Shane Ray, Markus Golden, Kony Ealy, Michael Sam. The list goes on. I just had a great time and received a lot of feedback from those guys and they really cultivated me and taught me their ways. ... I’m honored and blessed to carry the torch.”

Like Ray and Golden, Harris believes he can transition to outside linebacker if a team with a base 3-4 defense decides to draft him. The last two years, the 6-3, 235-pound Harris often lined up in a standing position as an outside rusher.

“I love standing up in a pass-rush situation,” he said. “I also love putting my hand down. I can play against the run. I can pass rush. I can drop (in coverage). I can do whatever a team asks me to do. Whatever I can’t do, I’m willing to develop through hard work, just like I did here at Mizzou.”