Alabama’s Harris makes big leap
Najee Harris, the Bay Area’s most prolific high school running back, still doesn’t have a Twitter account.
But the freshman at Alabama, even as a backup, still dominates the social-media space. During Saturday’s 10-carry, 70-yard performance against Vanderbilt, Twitter posts about the Antioch graduate ran rampant.
“This really isn’t fair,” posted Charlie Potter of 247Sports. “Najee Harris is Alabama’s fourth tailback in the game and is running over people.”
Most of the posts showed Harris hurdling right over junior linebacker Jordan Griffin. The leap also was displayed in picture form on the cover of the Mobile Press Register.
“If Najee Harris is running right at you, getting out of the way isn’t the worst idea,” CBSSports posted.
In four games, the 6-foot-2, 227-pounder is fourth on the nation’s top-ranked team with 156 rushing yards on 30 attempts (5.2 average) but no touchdowns. He also has three catches for 13 yards.
He’s had two double-digit carry games: 13 against Fresno State and 10 at Vanderbilt. In each of those games, he ran for 70 yards.
“I think he looks great,” said Brett Dudley, his offensive coordinator at Antioch. “He’s handled the transition to college really well. He’ll just keep improving as he gets more reps and live experience.”
Antioch has a bye, so Dudley will attend Saturday’s 6 p.m. (PDT) home game against Mississippi. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Dudley and Harris communicate weekly. “He seems very happy,” Dudley said. “He’s doing everything he cares about: football, working out and academics.”
Harris, the nation’s No. 2 recruit from the Class of 2017 according to 247Sports composite, rushed for a Bay Area-best 7,948 career yards and 94 TDs at Antioch. He was a two-time Metro Player of the Year. More freshmen running backs: Ronnie Rivers (Freedom-Oakley), who was a firstteam All-Metro running back with Harris last year, is the leading rusher at Fresno State.
The 5-8, 175-pounder has 28 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown, to go with four catches for 28 yards.
Rivers’ backup is yet another freshman and Bay Area native, Jordan Mims (Menlo-Atherton), who has 16 rushes for 59 yards and six catches for 69.
Rivers ran for 2,239 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior. Mims had 2,388 rushing yards and 29 TDs in 2016. Briefly: Arizona State junior quarterback Manny Wilkins (San Marin-Novato) ranks 11th nationally in passing yards (1,271 yards). He has completed 93 of 140 passes, with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. … Texas sophomore Collin Johnson (Valley Christian) ranks 27th in receiving yards (366). … Eastern Washington has quite a Bay Area imprint. Junior receiver Nsimba Webster (Deer Valley-Antioch) had a career-high 13 catches for 143 yards in a 48-41 win at Montana on Saturday. His twin, Nzuzi Webster, had a key fourth-down tackle to secure the win. Also, sophomore Antoine Custer (De La Salle-Concord) has a teamleading 140 rushing yards and two scores, as well as four catches for 74 yards and another TD.