A consensus 5-star running back, Harris chose Alabama over seemingly every other major program in the country. He racked up 130 yards from scrimmage and was finding the big play frequently. Somewhere else that makes sense is Arizona, where Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray are a superstar rusher away from being the NFL’s scariest offense. Pro Football Network, LLC. Najee Harris fever has hit its peak with the Pittsburgh Steelers. From now until the 2021 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to showcase as many prospects as possible and examine both their strengths and weaknesses. All Rights Reserved. In it, the Bills select Harris. Harris is a natural hands catcher of the football, which bodes well for his ability to translate to today’s NFL where pass-catching backs are the norm these days. Harris finished the season with 370 yards on 61 carries averaging 6.1 yards per carry. When I watch Najee Harris catch the football, I think of Matt Forte. [3][4] As a junior he had 2,744 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns. It's the second time that Harris has been mocked to the Bills in a prominent mock draft recently as E. Najee Harris RB | Alabama Crimson Tide | 6-2 | 230 lbs. He was used as the Alabama offense’s workhorse, rushing 31 total times at 4.9 yards per carry. For updates from the 2021 Senior Bowl, click here for our 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: American Team or 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: National Team. Despite speculation that he would declare for the 2020 NFL Draft, Harris announced that he would return to Alabama for his senior year.[11]. Running back can occasionally be one of the hard positions to find team fits, but a few destinations make a lot of sense for Harris. Harris also registered another 96 yards and caught six balls for 61 yards. Najee Harris surprised a few people last year when he decided to return for another year in college. The Story. Harris’ skill set is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. He also scored three rushing touchdowns.[9]. Harris screams consistency and has solidified himself as an all-around running back these past two seasons. Starting with Alabama’s Najee Harris, who you will see as RB1 more times than not in mock drafts and similar rankings. After a big performance last week, Harris struggled to find a rhythm against Texas A&M, as the Aggies defense did an impressive job bottling up Harris. In these cases, the average was taken. 3 overall prospect of the class of 2017, 247Sports as the number 2, while Rivals had him as the number 1 overall. Harris did not let the Texas A&M game get to his head, as he set his career-high for rushing yards against the Ole Miss Rebels. [10] During this season, Harris had 1,224 yards and 13 touchdowns while catching 27 passes for 304 yards and 7 touchdowns. Najee Harris is arguably the most talked about and debated prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft. [6], Harris was considered the #1 recruit in the class of 2017, by Scout. Now that Super Bowl 55 is finished, what better way to celebrate than with Matt Williamson's brand new First Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft? [2] As a sophomore in 2014, Harris rushed for 2,263 yards with 23 touchdowns. ESPN ranked him the No. 5 Players Who Raised 2021 NFL Draft Stock On Saturday. Against the Georgia Bulldogs he ran for 31 attempts with 152 yards, 1 touchdown and 4.9 yards on average. [1], Harris played his high school football career at Antioch High School in Antioch, California. The running back still found the paint with ease and started his senior season effectively. Alabama has now posted back-to-back dominant victories against SEC opponents; Harris has been at the center of both. Harris has demonstrated excellent catching ability throughout his career, and he projects as a player you can feature on every play regardless of down and distance. Another huge game for Najee Harris and his NFL draft stock; he rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs. Najee Harris scores three touchdowns as the Crimson Tide go on to dominate the Buckeyes 52-24 in Miami for the national ... who was a longtime NFL … Najee Harris has decided to attend the Senior Bowl, and he might be playing for his future NFL team. It’s not a bad thing, because there is no doubt Harris has a bright future in the NFL. Najee Harris is returning to school for one last run with the Crimson Tide. Najee Harris is an interesting NFL draft evaluation because he brings a skill-set unlike really any we’ve seen recently. He is a featured top option running back. Harris averaged 5.9 yards per carry for 1,224 yards with 13 touchdowns. On Saturday night, Alabama running back Najee Harris had 31 carries for 178 yards and five catches for 67 yards with an SEC title game record five total touchdowns (two rushing, three receiving) against Florida. Harris has 13 rushing touchdowns in 13 games and is tied for second in the conference. Najee Harris, the starting running back for the College Football Playoff National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide is expected to leave Alabama and turn pro, declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft. The lengthy list of scholarship offers from teams knocking at the door may not come as much of a surprise, but the fact that Najee Harris nearly transferred out of Alabama to seek more playing time after his true freshman season just might. Najee Harris has scored at a jaw-dropping rate this season. Alabama junior running back Najee Harris announced his intentions to return to school for his senior season and forgo the NFL draft. In his sophomore year, Harris moved up the depth chart but was still splitting time with Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs. Is his unique skill-set enough to make Harris the first running back selected in the 2021 NFL Draft? His best game of the season was against Ole Miss, where he attempted 23 rushes for 206 yards, 5 touchdowns for a 9.0 yard average. 5 Best Player-Team Fits In Weissman's 2021 NFL Mock Draft 3.1. Why Alabama star Najee Harris decided to pass on entering NFL draft. 2017 Alabama Crimson Tide football—consensus national champions, 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide football—consensus national champions, https://1bleacherreport.com/articles/2687782, "Antioch's Najee Harris has run into national spotlight", Top-ranked Antioch football player’s future is bright, Antioch High School’s Najee Harris leading team to new heights, https://247sports.com/Player/Najee-Harris-62925, https://rolltide.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5422, "Najee Harris finally gets to be Alabama's primary runner", "Alabama star RB Najee Harris decides to return to school in 2020, holding off NFL Draft", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Najee_Harris&oldid=1005012266, Players of American football from California, Sportspeople from the San Francisco Bay Area, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. He was engaging defenders as opposed to avoiding them. Should teams take a running back in the first round of the NFL Draft? Najee Harris became one of the nation’s top rushers and one of the NFL draft’s top running back prospects. Despite the Aggies’ best efforts, Harris still found the end zone twice. NFL Draft Diamonds Scouting Notes: Najee Harris is a first round pick. With Harris and Jacobs both leaving for the NFL following the 2018 season, Harris was destined for the lion’s share of carries in his first season as a draft-eligible prospect. Najee Harris is an excellent receiver from the running back position, but he hadn’t found much receiving production this season. Throughout the draft process, there will be a massive debate among scouts on who the top running back in the 2021 NFL Draft class is, whether you prefer Alabama battering ram Najee Harris or Clemson burner Travis Etienne. Najee Jerome Harris (born March 9, 1998) is an American football running back for the Alabama Crimson Tide. As a true junior in 2019, Harris took a massive step in his development as a runner. He added three more touchdowns against the defending national champions and has now carried the ball over the goal line 20 times. Multiple recruiting experts compared him to Adrian Peterson. With Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris off to the NFL, Najee Harris earned the starting spot as a junior in 2019. Harris, like Etienne, also turned down a chance at the NFL last season and decided to return for one last year at Alabama. In 2018, Harris had only 117 carries, but averaged 6.7 yards per carry for 783 yards with four touchdowns. Running back Najee Harris signs on with Bay Area legend Marshawn Lynch As Harris, the Alabama star running back, prepares for the upcoming NFL … This page was last edited on 5 February 2021, at 14:44. One team that stands out is the Miami Dolphins. Harris had his best game against Arkansas State, carrying the ball 13 times and gaining a career-high 135 yards. With Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs off to the NFL, Harris became the starting running back for Alabama Crimson Tide. Let’s take a deep dive into his NFL draft player profile. Harris’s final regular-season game of his career is coming up as he takes on Arkansas this Saturday. He was the only member on the team to rush for over six yards per carry. Is Alabama running back Najee Harris the best running in the 2021 NFL Draft? Derrick Henry believes his position deserves more respect. Guys like Travis Etienne, Chuba Hubbard, and Kylin Hill make it a dominant class, but my favorite of the group is Alabama’s Najee Harris. Featured | NFL Draft Prospects 2021: Tony Pauline’s updated big board, player rankings. Garnering 206 yards and five touchdowns, Harris had a career day. What many didn’t expect was that Harris would choose to return to Alabama for his senior season. On Friday, NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein released his latest mock ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft in April. Against Kentucky, Harris found the end zone twice and registered 83 yards on the ground and another 27 through the air. Included in that is dynamic running back Najee Harris. Harris was a dominant high school recruit and many viewed him as the top prospect in the nation. He then blends that with his elite receiving ability and becomes a whole new type of weapon. Miami is home to Harris’ former collegiate QB Tua Tagovailoa, and the team desperately needs an RB1 in the building. [5] As a senior, he had 2,776 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns. Najee Harris looks like he could be the first running back taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. In his first 2021 NFL Draft mock of the offseason, Kiper sends the Bills a known, dynamic running back in Alabama’s Najee Harris. The SF 49ers aren’t likely to take a running back high in the 2021 NFL Draft. Related | Mac Jones, QB, Alabama — NFL Draft Player Profile. He’s now brought his season total to 14 in five games, a historic pace. He also recorded a tackle, the fourth of his career. 5 Best Player-Team Fits In Marino's 2021 NFL Mock Draft 3.1. As a true freshman, Harris finished fourth on the Crimson Tide in carries, but he managed an impressive 6.1 yards per carry, found the end zone three times, and flashed pass-catching skills in minimal opportunities. Especially considering the cancelation of the 2021 in-person NFL Scouting Combine, the Senior Bowl was a great way for players to show off their pro potential. [7] Harris received offers from multiple top football programs including, Alabama Crimson Tide, Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes, USC Trojans, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. At 6’2″ and 230 lbs, Harris is a battering ram rusher, dealing with punishment and running through contact with ease. He was finally taking full advantage of his size, and both his vision and conviction were better than ever. Updated Jan 16, 2020; Posted Jan 16, 2020 . Harris has been unstoppable on his way to the end zone as he recorded three more this week. However, due to Alabama’s talent at the running back position, Harris had to wait before he would regularly see the field. He showed it against Florida, where he accumulated 245 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns. He wanted to follow in the steps of former Alabama rushers like Mark Ingram, Eddie Lacy, Derrick Henry, and Bo Scarbrough. Harris is an exceptional pass catcher with a ridiculous catch radius, thanks to his large frame. 2. It was an exceedingly productive weekend for Harris in Knoxville. Often described as "Mini Derek Henry," because he p Anyone can turn on film and see he is the best running back in the 2021 NFL Draft. 3 among running back for […] The 2021 NFL Draft class has a great crop of senior running backs. [8], As a freshman, Harris played in all 14 games but had limited carries as players like Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough, and Josh Jacobs handled the main workload. Alabama didn’t need a massive effort from Harris, as the game fairly quickly got out of hand. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Inflicting punishment with every rush and demoralizing a talented Georgia defense, Harris demonstrated his tenacity. Against the Missouri Tigers, Harris had 17 attempts for 98 yards and 3 touchdowns. Najee Harris is an interesting NFL draft evaluation because he brings a skill-set unlike really any we’ve seen recently. When he was on the field, his talent flashed; he just wasn’t on the field very often. He committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2015. Latest on Alabama Crimson Tide running back Najee Harris including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN. He also registered 145 yards on the ground on 21 carries, good for 6.9 yards per attempt. Harris will fulfill a full four years at Alabama. He also set the SEC career record for touchdowns by a running back with 54. I wanted to write a piece on him because he impressed the hell out of me last week. As a freshman, Harris played in all 14 games but had limited carries as players like Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough, and Josh Jacobs handled the main workload. His season total is now five touchdowns in two games. However, what Harris does that separates him from other big power backs is his amazing work as a receiver. Harris managed an impressive 8.7 yards per carry on only 11 carries for the night. Teams seldom do each year, but Najee Harris is an elite prospect. It was the most dominant performance of his collegiate career. Najee Harris: From top national recruit at Antioch High to NFL prospect The list of former Alabama players in the NFL includes All-Pro receivers, rushing champions and even a league MVP. Despite Mississippi State keeping Harris out of the end zone for the first time this season, he still managed to eclipse 100 yards for the game. But Alabama’s Najee Harris sure would be enticing. He also scored three rushing touchdowns. Here’s how Kiper breaks it down: Buffalo’s running game was so ineffective this season that offensive coordinator Brian Daboll cooked up a few game plans that required very few runs. Copyright © 2019-2021. Harris has dominated this season in the most talented conference in college football. He’s a massive running back at 6’2 and 229 pounds, nearly the size of Titans’ star Derrick Henry, 6’3, 238 pounds. He’s a massive running back at 6’2 and 229 pounds, nearly the size of Titans’ star Derrick Henry, 6’3, 238 pounds. In his sophomore season, Harris was third on the depth chart behind Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs. He was productive throughout Alabama’s utter domination of Mississippi State. In 2020, Harris was the starting running back for the Alabama Crimson Tide. (Photo by UA Athletics/Collegiate Images/Getty Images), Najee Harris NFL Draft Profile & Senior Bowl Measurements, Harris dominates Florida in SEC Championship game, Najee Harris dominates LSU for fourth hat trick of season, inches closer towards 2021 NFL Draft, Kept out of the end zone, Harris still passes the century mark, Harris continues amazing touchdown production, Back-to-back big games for Najee Harris, improves NFL draft stock, Hat trick for Harris in win over Missouri, Defensive Points Allowed Consistency Score, Expected Fantasy Points and Fantasy Points Differential, 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: American Team, 2021 Senior Bowl Practice Report: National Team, NFL Draft Prospects 2021: Tony Pauline’s updated big board, player rankings, Mac Jones, QB, Alabama — NFL Draft Player Profile. 2021 NFL Draft Summer Scouting: Running Backs. Najee Harris profile page, biographical information, injury history and news Harris’s blend of size, speed, and third-down ability could make him a lethal every-down back at the next level. Harris finished the season with 370 yards on 61 carries averaging 6.1 yards per carry. That changed in the SEC Championship game, where he caught five balls for 67 yards and three touchdowns. As we kickoff bowl season and the College Football Playoff, NFL Draft experts are finalizing their boards for the first of multiple mock drafts after the season ends. Alabama Crimson Tide RB Najee Harris (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) Najee Harris has been shooting up draft boards this season, and he is … Arizona Cardinals 2021 NFL Draft Profile: Alabama RB Najee Harris Teams After a great Alabama football career that placed him near the top of … Harris was one of the most hyped running back recruits since Bryce Brown in 2009 and Leonard Fournette in 2014. Harris played in 15 games, recording 783 yards on 117 carries and scoring four rushing touchdowns. TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 28: Najee Harris #22 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs the ball against the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 28, 2020 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Najee Harris only toted the rock 17 times, but he managed 98 yards and three rushing touchdowns. According to Pro Football Focus, a website that dives into the analytics of college and pro football, Najee Harris ranks at No. 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB Najee Harris. Being a superstar top prospect is nothing new for Najee Harris, as he was widely considered the best player in the country coming out of high school. The bruising rusher sees two potential first-round running backs in the 2021 draft: fellow Alabama product Najee Harris … ... #22 Najee Harris/RB Alabama – 6’2 230. The 2021 NFL draft is still four months out, ... Ryan Wilson, who covers the NFL and the draft for CBS Sports, recently mocked Alabama running back Najee Harris to the Steelers.