During Wednesday morning’s SEC teleconference, the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide took questions from reporters. One question was about running back, Najee Harris, the consensus number one recruit in the 2016 recruiting class. When asked about what Harris’ impact on the 2017 team, Nick Saban sounded pleased with the freshman’s growth.
“Najee Harris will be a significant contributor for us,” Saban said, “he has good size, he’s a good runner, and a good receiver. He’s done an outstanding job in his development…and right now he is going to have an opportunity to play in this game.”
At 6-2, 227 pounds, the former five-star recruit has the look of a physical specimen. He played well in April’s spring game, accumulating 110 total yards on the day in addition to an incredible highlight reel-worthy hurdle and a breakaway spin through traffic:
First carry for No. 1 recruit Najee Harris. Or is that Derrick Henry? Or maybe Bo Scarbrough? pic.twitter.com/LZwNPqrIv4
— Dakota Moyer (@DakotaMoyer) June 11, 2017
#RollTide Fr. RB #22 Najee Harris 6-2/227 w/GD Vision on this Power Run – stays inside the hip pocket of RG while exhibiting Solid COD. pic.twitter.com/Xvr7xxGHaQ
— Matt Caraccio (@Matty_S2S) May 2, 2017
He also showed off his pass-catching ability on this next play, as well as elite ball carrier vision:
Pre-freshman Najee Harris makes tacklers collide
— Luke Johnson (@Scoop_Johnson) May 1, 2017
Who gets the snaps in Alabama’s loaded backfield has consistently been a question throughout the offseason. Many wondered if either of the true freshman running backs would even see the field for their first year, or if they would take a redshirt. That part of the question has now been answered, and the Najee Harris hype-train can continue to pick up steam. It would be a surprise to see him start the game, but do not be shocked to see him early in the first quarter.
He appears to be just that good.
