The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Harris’ decision gives Crimson Tide a boost in backfield
MONTGOMERY, ALA. — Damien Harris bucked the trend of Alabama’s recent starting tailbacks, who follow up big seasons with early departures for the NFL. Instead, Harris opted to stick around for his senior season.
The decision gives the defending national champion Crimson Tide’s already talented backfield a big boost and provides Harris a chance to become the program’s first three-time 1,000-yard rusher and maybe even breaking the career record. Harris was a potential early round NFL draft pick if he had turned pro but said the decision really “wasn’t that hard.”
“I just wanted to be a part of this program for another year,” he said. “I could give you guys a lot of X’s and O’s for why I should leave or why I should stay, but at the end of the day, I felt very blessed to be a part of this program for three years . ... When I was making my decision, that was kind of what was heavy on my mind.”
The decision fortified Alabama’s backfield even after backup Bo Scarbrough opted to leave early for the NFL, along with four teammates. Josh Jacobs and freshmen Najee Harris and Brian Robinson all averaged more than 6 yards per carry last season.
None was as productive as Harris, though. He ran for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 7.4 yards.
With 2,194 yards, Harris can become the program’s eighth runner to reach 3,000 yards and fifth since coach Nick Saban arrived in 2007. Predecessors Derrick Henry, T.J. Yeldon, Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson and Glen Coffee all stuck around only three seasons before turning pro.
Henry, the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner, holds Alabama’s career mark with 3,591 yards. Ingram, who won the 2009 Heisman, and Richardson were first-round picks.
Harris acknowledges, almost reluctantly, the possibilities for moving up in the Tide’s record books have crossed his mind even if it doesn’t seem “politically correct.”
“I’d be lying to you if I told you I hadn’t ever thought about it,” he said.
Harris has partnered with a running quarterback in Jalen Hurts and has never even had 20 carries in a game. Scarbrough made such a splash in the playoffs two seasons ago that he was widely labeled Alabama’s next star tailback.
Harris didn’t relinquish that role. While not nearly as prolific as, say, Henry, he has been productive and efficient.
Harris is averaging 6.7 yards per carry in his career, while none of those other backs averaged six.