No matter where he has been in his coaching career, both college and National Football League, Steve Sarkisian is responsible for producing at least one versatile running back.
As a quarterbacks’ coach at University of Southern California (2001-03, 2005-06), he had a hand in the development of Reggie Bush and LenDale White. Upon his arrival at the University of Washington (2009-13) as head coach, Sarkisian tutored Bishop Sankey and Chris Polk.
In his return to the USC Trojans for the 2014-15 seasons, he had Javorius Allen and Ronald Jones.
The key to Sarkisian’s west coast style of play calling is for each offensive skill player to be a threat with the ball.
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He wants to create matchups to isolate his best athletes and while Najee Harris showcased versatility in high school, Sarkisian has brought more out of him at receiver in the last two years.
Hailing from Antioch, Calif., Harris’ goal is to be selected in the first-round of next year’s NFL Draft. For the modern-day back, pro teams want someone that can do more than run the ball between the tackles and bounce plays outside.
With the rules of the game suiting offenses, NFL franchises also want a player that doubles as a receiver in the passing game too.
Nowadays, the goal is to force defenses to guard every inch of the field.
Last season, Harris excelled at receiver.
He was one of five players to total at least 20 catches (27) and had 307 yards with seven touchdowns. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, he opened up DeVonta Smith (1,256) and Jerry Jeudy (1,163) more offensively as both players had a 1,000-yard campaign. Harris’ exploits in the passing game created success for Henry Ruggs III, Jaylen Waddle and Miller Forristall as well.
Ruggs (746) and Waddle (560) chimed in with over 500 yards receiving, while Forristall grabbed four touchdowns at tight end.
Tua Tagovailoa orchestrated Alabama’s offense for much of 2019 — prior to a hip injury versus Mississippi State — but Harris has continued his excellence with Mac Jones. This season, he has tallied 20 catches for 183 yards on an average of 9.2 yards per reception. He’s taken some attention away from Smith, Waddle (despite an injury), Forristall, John Metchie and Slade Bolden. Harris’ versatility has led to Alabama totaling five straight 40-point games, while carrying the best scoring offense in the Southeastern Conference and No. 2 scoring offense in the nation (47.2 ppg). According to Forristall, his perfect world is having opponents double everyone else and leave him open.
He said Harris is big, when it comes to opening the offense.
“Najee is great,” Forristall said on Monday. “He is great running the ball and obviously, he is great catching the ball out of the backfield. It has been great for our offense. So, hopefully we will get to see that more in the next couple of weeks.”
Christian Harris, a sophomore linebacker, goes against Harris at practice.
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The 6-foot-2, 232-pounder is second on the team for total tackles (38), but he and the defense enjoy the challenge of tackling a huge athlete like Najee Harris every day.
“Najee is incredibly large and fast, which is unusual … but it does make us better every day,” Harris said. “Being able to go against him, it does make it a little better when you go to the games. It gives you a little more confidence. He wins some battles … I win some battles, but he’s a great athlete. He can do it all.”
Through six games, Harris has 897 yards from scrimmage (714 rushing, 183 receiving) and 14 scores. On Saturday, he looks to gain a second straight 1,000-yard year with a strong outing against Kentucky.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
