Alabama Football: Damien Harris has feet sweeter than Honey Buns

Alabama football running back Damien Harris may not have wanted to give up his favorite snack, but it’s helped him become an elite ball carrier this season.

ICYMI: Alabama football is only gladiator left standing in the SEC West

Ooo! Look at dem legs! Look. At. Dem. Legs. They’re amazing!

Physical attraction? Possibly, for some. However, all of Alabama football fans are more interested in what Damien Harris’ purposeful and powerful legs are doing on the football field, lately. The Associated Press reported that “Harris opted to give up one of his favorite sugary snacks to help shed a few pounds before the season,” which was Honey Buns.

Harris has given up the idea of carrying the bulk of the running duties for trying to be explosive on the carries that he does get. “He doesn’t seem to mind nearly so much giving up some carries to ‘Bama’s other runners, including quarterback Jalen Hurts.”

Harris said, before the game against Arkansas, that “any time you get the ball you want to do the most that you can, not only for yourself but for the team. Gain the most yards, get as close to the end zone, make the offense as efficient as you can and make the offense have positive plays.”

How does one do that? In the case of Harris, dropping his favorite snack was painful but worth it:

The proof is in the pudding … or … whatever healthier option Harris must have picked.

Harris wasted no time in last Saturday’s Homecoming game against the Razorbacks. His fast feet moved like a hot blade going through butter, going right through the Arkansas defensive line for 75 yards and scoring the opening touchdown on the first offensive play of the game. Harris only had nine carries, but he gained 125 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 13.9 yards a carry.

According to ESPN’s statistics department, Harris is ranked fourth in all of college football for yards per carry (9.2). Considering the other three rushers are from Arizona, Stamford, and Army, three teams whom either play in leagues watching for the pass or utilize inferior run defenses to that of Alabama’s competition, Harris’ numbers are even more impressive.

If numbers are not a big selling point, then just watch the game footage. Whenever Harris has the ball, whether in the first or fourth quarter, it looks like the opposition needs more of an army than a gang of tacklers to bring him down. Alabama football strength coach Scott Cochran sees the fruits of his labor and he seemingly loves every single minute of it, shouting and applauding each time it takes a group of defenders to even knock Harris off balance.

Next: NASCAR's Keselowski meets Saban, then wins Talladega race

Honey Buns? Who needs Honey Buns when one can have sweet feet and meaty hamstrings like Harris has? His calves cannot be contained. His quads qualify as lethal weapons, as they are lean, mean, fighting machines. No extra fat needed on that gridiron, as staying fit has helped classify Harris and a prime cut above the rest of the running backs in college football.