Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide have produced some solid NFL running back talent over the last few years, whether it be Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry or even Josh Jacobs.
Now, it may be time to add another name to the list, Najee Harris.
The former five-star running back from California hadn’t seen much action in Tuscaloosa until his Junior season in 2019 where he exploded onto the scene and made quite the name for himself within the college football community.
In his Junior season, Harris has accumulated 1,224 yards off of 209 carries which lead to 13 touchdowns on the ground.
His abilities went beyond rushing, as he caught 27 passes for 304 yards and seven touchdowns.
The way he played in 2019 should point to an early departure from Alabama and the start to an NFL career, but in a draft class riddled with star collegiate running backs like J.K. Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor, Harris might be overshadowed.
Many draft analysts have left Harris out of their first-round mock drafts for 2020, including one of the most trusted names, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report.
In his most recent mock draft, he listed eight Alabama players in the first round, but his name was left out.
In Miller’s mock draft, there were only two running backs selected in the first round and they were both past the top-15, which shows that NFL teams across the league are not too hungry to fill their backfields in the first round.
The positional ‘Big Board’ Miller put together has him listed as the No. 4 best running back in the 2020 draft class.
Najee Harris is a talented running back whose skills and poise on the field have not gone unnoticed, but it just might not be the right time for him to leave yet.
It’s not that he has anything to prove to NFL scouts and front offices, but it just might not be the right time for him to leave yet.
Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban has a mantra that he preaches every January: If you are not projected to be drafted in the first round, and you have the opportunity to continue playing college football, don’t enter the draft.
Harris, at the age of 21 will have to make one of the biggest decisions of his life.
I know my opinion might not carry much weight, but I believe it would be best for him to stay at Alabama for his Senior season and enter the NFL after he graduates.
This does a lot of things for the running back.
For starters, a lot of Alabama’s Juniors look to be returning for their final season as they have “unfinished business.” This is an opportunity for Harris to win another National Championship on a team that will highlight his talents even more than it did in 2019.
Waiting one more year will also allow his name to stand out a little bit more on the draft board.
As I mentioned earlier, the 2020 NFL Draft class is loaded with high-profile names out of the back field. Why not wait one more year and be the biggest name out of the group?
Harris has only been the starting back for the Crimson Tide for one season.
As a freshman, he was behind Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris. In his Sophomore season he was behind D. Harris and Josh Jacobs. Most recently, he started the last season tied with Brian Robinson on the depth chart for the starting spot, it wasn’t until a couple of weeks into the season where he was allowed to be the workhorse.
It feels as if the 2020 Crimson Tide team will look a lot like the 2019 team with some additions, they have a strong back field full of young potential stars like Kielan Robinson, Drew Sanders and Jase McLellan.
I’m sure coach Saban and the Alabama coaching staff would feel a lot more comfortable with Najee Harris returning, not only as an on-the-field threat, but also as a leader to help bring the offense together and to coach up the young backs.
Harris has until Jan. 20 to make a decision on if he will enter the 2020 NFL Draft.
Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on all things Alabama football including the watch of Juniors that could be entering the draft.
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