BamaInsider Top 40 for 2020: Najee Harris comes in at No. 4

BamaInsider continues to unveil its annual top-40 list for the Alabama football team. Players were rated based on their projected impact for the Crimson Tide this season. Today we move on to No. 4 by looking at last year’s leading rusher, Najee Harris.

Alabama top 40: 40-36 | 35-31 | 30-26 | 25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5

— 1,224 rushing yards (team-high)

— 13 rushing touchdowns (team-high)

— 5.86 yards per carry

— 27 receptions

— 304 receiving yards

— Seven receiving touchdowns

Harris’ two career-best performances both came in losing efforts last year. During the game against LSU, the star back ran for 146 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries while recording three receptions for 44 yards and a score through the air. Harris was instrumental in leading a comeback effort for the Crimson Tide as 146 of his total yards came in the second half.

Harris also starred in Alabama’s Iron Bowl defeat to Auburn, carrying the ball a career-high 27 times for 146 yards and a touchdown while adding four receptions for 26 yards. Another honorable mention on this list is the game against South Carolina. While Harris ran for just 36 yards on seven carries against the Gamecocks, he tallied a career-best five receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns through the air. That game also featured an impressive hurdle on a 42-yard score.

Harris ranks No. 15 on Alabama’s all-time rushing list but is within striking distance of Derrick Henry’s all-time mark. After piling up 2,377 career rushing yards through three seasons Harris enters his final year with the Tide 1,214 yards away from Henry’s record of 3,591 yards.

The milestone is certainly reachable for Harris, who ran for a career-high 1,224 yards last season. However, he could see his workload reduced a bit as fellow five-star back Trey Sanders returns from a foot injury that kept him out all of last season while Brian Robinson Jr. and Keilan Robinson will also compete for carries. Last year, Harris received 47.9 percent of Alabama’s carries. While that percentage likely won’t be that high this year, he still has a good chance of making history, especially if the Tide can make an extended postseason run.

If you’re looking for a Heisman contender on Alabama’s roster this season, Harris is one of the best bets. While the star back was given just 40-1 odds to win the award in the latest Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook update this week, it’s worth noting that the Tide’s only two Heisman winners — Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram — have both come from the running back position.

Regardless of what accolades Harris picks up in his final season, he will undoubtedly be a key part of Alabama’s offense. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound back is known for his ability to break through and hurdle over defenders but added another element to his game as a receiver last season. Harris’ seven receiving touchdowns last year were the most by any Alabama back in a single season. Along with catching screens and swing passes out of the backfield, he also showed the ability to make impressive downfield grabs, such as his acrobatic touchdown against LSU.

The loss of Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback could see Alabama increase its focus on the ground early in the season as it looks to get either Mac Jones or Bryce Young settled behind center. Even if Alabama’s offense doesn’t change much, Harris’ presence in the backfield will keep opposing defenses honest.

“He runs hard. You never know how to tackle Najee. You don’t know what button he might press. He might try to run you over, might try to spin, might try to hurdle.” — Terrell Lewis, former Alabama linebacker.