Without Najee Harris, Antioch still can thrive
For the first time in three seasons, the spotlight of expectation won’t be shining on Antioch’s Eells Stadium.
Still, scouts and fans will make the trip to watch a running back named Harris.
Cal commit Omari Harris is an impressive 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds — “He’s absolutely cut and the hardest-working kid in the weight room,” Antioch offensive coordinator Brett
Dudley said — but he’s no relation to 5-star Antioch running back Najee Harris, who is now a freshman at Alabama.
“The first thing scouts ask is if he’s the younger brother or cousin of Najee,” Dudley said. “They worked out a lot together. I think Najee definitely helped influence Omari in the way he now handles all the attention. He helped keep Omari humble.”
Omari won’t be the team’s offensive workhorse like Najee (6-3, 226 pounds), who carried the ball 291 times last season and 788 times over the past three. Omari’s first position is probably linebacker, where Dudley thinks he can play inside or outside, or even strong safety at Cal.
Omari, who attended De La Salle as a freshman, definitely will carry the ball for the Panthers, along with 100-meter sprinter Dalaan Green (5-7, 180). The two will make up a potent inside-outside punch.
“I could see both of them as 1,000-yard rushers,” Dudley said. “Omari just has great power and strength. He’s extremely athletic for his size. I expect a total breakout season for (Green). He’s as fast and they come and a lot stronger than people think.”
Omari + Green might very well = 1 Najee, but without all the attention.
The Panthers, who last season reached their first North Coast Section title game since 1977, have other players drawing the attention of college recruiters, including fast, strongarmed junior quarterback Willem Karnthong (5-11, 175), junior receiver Gaudie Campbell (6-2, 170) and sophomore cornerback Dejuan Butler (6-0, 170).
Antioch, the 2015 Bay Valley Athletic League champion, isn’t expected to contend for the title this season, not with Pittsburg, Freedom-Oakley and even vastly improved Liberty-Brentwood and Deer Valley-Antioch proving formidable opposition.
“It’s definitely a lot different without the big guy (Najee Harris) around,” Dudley said. “There’s not all that pressure of expectation, but this is a real good group.”
Metro Top 50 by the numbers: Based 75 percent on recruitment and 25 percent productivity, The Chronicle’s preseason list is spread among schools and positions.
Valley Christian-San Jose, De La Salle-Concord and Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland each had four players on the list — DLS’s four are in the top 12 — and the defensive line (including defensive ends) had the most representatives with 11 players, followed by defensive backs and quarterbacks (seven each), offensive line (six), wide receivers (five), running backs and linebackers (four) and athletes and tight ends (three).
Keeping his word: New Cal head coach Justin Wilcox vowed to recruit better locally and judging from this list, he has kept his word.
With the commitment last week of Clayton Valley-Concord tackle Brandon Mello, the Bears have secured six of the 50. Only Oregon State, whose recruit list includes Marin Catholic-Kentfield quarterback
Spencer Petras and Stellar Prep-Hayward cornerback
Deshon Wilson, has more than one local commit.
Blue chippers: Bishop O’Dowd safety Jevon Holland has moved to the top spot among locals for 2018 graduates according to 247Sports, which came out with rankings Tuesday.
Holland is ranked 21st in California. Other Top 100 California recruits were Tariq Bracy (Milpitas, No. 37), Tyler Manoa (St. Francis, 39), Tuli
Letuligasenoa (De La Salle, 45), Quinn Brinnon (O’Dowd, 61), D’Angelo McKenzie (Valley Christian, 63), Antioch’s Harris (64), Tuni Fifita (Milpitas, 67), JH Tevis (Menlo School-Atherton, 95) and Blake
McDonald (San Ramon ValleyDanville, 98).
Among juniors ranked nationally, De La Salle linebacker
Henry To’oto’o is No. 22 and teammate Isaiah Foskey ,a tight end, is No. 101. Pittsburg defensive lineman Jacob
Bandes is No. 74 and O’Dowd running back Austin Jones No. 94.
Don’t throw against these 3: Three Valley Christian secondary players made our top 50 list: McKenzie, Charlie Bostic and Alton Julian.
MaxPreps senior writer Mitch Stephens covers high school sports for The San Francisco Chronicle.
“I think Najee definitely helped influence Omari in the way he now handles all the attention.” Brett Dudley, Antioch offensive coordinator