Lets just start by saying I love this guy. The 6’2”, 229 lb., 23 year old Alabama Senior can do everything. He’s big, fast, strong, can catch the ball and can block on the inside or outside. The unfortunate thing for Najee Harris is that the Running Back position has become so undervalued that his draft position is dropping. Many “experts” have only one RB going in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft, either Harris or Clemson’s Travis Etienne being that guy. To me, Harris fits that Steelers system perfectly. With all that said, the thing I like the most about Harris is he’s a great teammate!! Who drives 9 hours for Pro Day when you’re not participating? Najee Harris does so he could support his teammates.
Top of the List
The Crimson Tide has been churning out great running backs for years under Nick Saban. Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram won Heisman Trophies. Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake, Trent Richardson and TJ Yeldon are in the recent group as well. Who’s the leading rusher in Bama history? That’s right, it’s Najee Harris with 3,843 yards, followed by Henry, Shaun Alexander and Bobby Humphries. He also tops the Bama list in Career Rushing Touchdowns with 46.
Success started early for Harris. The Antioch California High Scholl product rushed for 2,263 yards as a HS Sophomore, 2,744 as a Junior and 2,776 yards as a Senior. You can add on 94 career TD’s. It didn’t come easy for the High School superstar when he got to Alabama where he had to bide his time as a Freshman and Sophomore behind backs Damion Harris, Bo Scarborough and Josh Jacobs. Harris being the player he is kept grinding.
His Junior season he became “The Man” in the Bama backfield rushing for 1,224 yards and 13 TD’ along with catching 27 passes for 304 yards and 7 more TD’s. Back for his Senior season and a chance to win an National Championship Harris added 1,466 more yards to his career total with 26TD’s rushing and 43 receptions for 425 yards and 4 TD’s. There was no Heisman Trophy for Harris, that went to teammate Devonte Smith, but Harris did win a 2nd National Championship, the Doak Walker Award, the SEC Championship Game MVP and was named Unanimous All American.
Whatever team decides to go Running Back and chooses Najee Harris is going to have a great player and great teammate!!
Bill Furman
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Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Bill Furman is a Collingdale PA native and a lifelong Philly sports fan of all of the teams. Having enjoyed a couple of NBA, Stanley Cup, and World Series Championships and a Super Bowl win, and we can’t forget a few Villanova Hoops National Championships, the good has been better than the many miserable seasons along the way. Bill got the bug at an early age when he attended his first Eagles game in 1965 and his first job was as an usher at the fabulous Palestra. Bill has been the host of Philly Pressbox Radio for 8 years.
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