Ad Disclosure
Alabama football: It’s Najee Harris’ world, and whomever the Tide play next is on notice
By David Wasson
Published:
Flashing back to January in the days after slapping around Michigan in the VRBO Citrus Bowl, several Alabama standouts faced decisions whether to bolt early for NFL riches or return for their final season in Tuscaloosa.
Eventual 1st-rounders like Tua Tagovailoa, Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy wisely turned pro and are thriving on Sundays. But a core of talent opted for their senior seasons, aiming to earn championships and right the wrongs that occurred in 2019.
Let’s just say Najee Harris, DeVonta Smith and Alex Leatherwood made the right call. And after his eye-popping performance against Florida in Saturday night’s SEC Championship Game, you might forgive Harris if he heads to his tailor to get fitted for his 1st-round NFL Draft suit.
The top-ranked Tide outlasted No. 7 Florida with a 52-46 victory, and Harris stole the show inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Already owning a reputation for a bruising running effort that has forced many SEC defenders into prudent business decisions in 2020, Harris showed off his receiving chops via a 5-catch, 67-yard, 3-touchdown performance.
Rushing? Oh yeah, Harris did that, too — rumbling for 177 yards on 31 carries and 2 touchdowns — giving him the school record for rushing yards (snapping Derrick Henry’s mark of 3,591 yards from 2013-15), a school-record 44 career rushing touchdowns and a school-record 54 total touchdowns.
Anyone want Bama now? Hello? No? Didn’t think so…
NFL scouts drool over a total package like Harris showed off against the Gators, a team that had already shoe-chucked itself to the edge of the College Football Playoff conversation but will now enjoy a nice consolation prize similar to the same Citrus Bowl that Alabama made the best of last season.
Though Alabama’s CFP semifinal team won’t be formally decided until Sunday afternoon, you better believe defensive coordinators from Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Texas A&M and even Coastal Carolina endured a sleepless Saturday night with nightmarish visions of Harris dancing and prancing all over their defense.
What makes Harris deadly is, well, you don’t quite know how he is going to slice and dice a defense until after it happens. Early on Saturday, Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian employed a more conventional Harris — handing it to him straightaway and letting the running back follow his mammoth offensive line to 88 first-half yards on 18 carries that was highlighted by an 8-yard TD run to open the game’s scoring onslaught.
Alabama when scoring first? Only 148-8 under coach Nick Saban.
But as Florida flexed more and more to dropping 8 into coverage, Harris was allowed to roam free on the 2nd level. With No. 22 free to catch check-downs as well as run WR-centric routes, Jones seemingly shrugged his shoulders and said “OK?” — throwing it to Harris for a 7-yard, circle-button touchdown.
When you’re playing in a ring game, you don’t leave a whole lot out of the playbook. Alabama proved that on its next drive, going for it on 4th-and-1 and uncorking a perfect semi-trick play — with Miller Forristall going in motion, then coming back and suddenly diving under center for a QB/TE sneak … all while Jones was signaling over to the sideline as if he wanted a new play. Alabama made the Gators pay 4 plays later, as Jones hit Harris on a beautiful 23-yard TD pass to make it 28-10.
But Harris’ piece de resistance came in the final seconds of the 1st half, running a double-move route that Sarkisian could easily frame and hang in a museum for a 17-yard touchdown catch — the running back’s 4th TD in the first 30 minutes of play.
That sound you heard? It was Harris, the no-doubt SEC title game MVP, cranking up the printing press at the U.S. Mint for all the money he is about to earn at the next level.
Even after Alabama undoubtedly turned in its worst quarter of football in 2020 during the most inopportune time — making the Kyle Trask and the Gators look like Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs — it was time for Harris to calm the Tide down. The superstar uncorked an Edwin Moses-worthy hurdle during a 19-yard run to the Florida 26, and then got it on 4 straight plays, the final play a 1-yard plunge that extended the lead back to 11 points and gave Harris the SEC Championship Game record for touchdowns.
And after Alabama’s defense gassed out completely with Florida scoring to make it a 7-point game, Harris showed why he won’t win the Heisman Trophy but could well be the Crimson Tide’s 2020 Most Valuable Player. Harris got the 1st handoff of the series and rumbled 14 yards. The next play? Harris off right tackle for 29 yards — a steamrolling run that visibly deflated the Florida defense to the point that the Gators could’ve lost a court case about faking injuries. Harris was even in on the game’s deciding play, drawing 10 Florida defenders with a play-action fake that allowed Jones to hit Smith on a 15-yard TD pass.
No matter who the Tide play next — the Fighting Irish, the Buckeyes, the Aggies, the Bearcats or even the Chanticleers — and where they tee it up, No. 22 will be the guy with another ring on his finger, ready to chew up another defense to the point they just want to quit.
Anyone want Bama now? Hello? No? Didn’t think so …
An APSE national award-winning writer and page designer, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @TheSharpDW
