Alabama Football: Where Najee Harris ranks among Tide legends

Is Najee Harris the best running back in Alabama football history?

Alabama football has a history of dominant running backs. It spans back decades, but the Nick Saban era has had some of the greatest running backs in the history of college football. Two of Alabama’s three Heisman winners have been running backs, and other legends have broken records as well. Saban has seen more elite running backs than some programs have ever had, and the legacy continued with Najee Harris.

Harris came back for his senior year and dominated in the SEC. He set touchdown records despite a shortened season, and he overcame homelessness and instability to become one of the best running backs ever.

That raises the question: where does he rank among the best Alabama football running backs ever?

Well, that depends on your grading criteria. This can be looked at in a myriad of ways. Two running backs have won the Heisman at Tuscaloosa. Considering that award goes to the best player in college football, you could argue that Najee Harris is third at best. However, you could also look at your overall collegiate career. Since Harris returned for his senior season, you could put him over greats like Mark Ingram or Derrick Henry. You also have to debate eras. With greats like Shaun Alexander, how do you compare stats between eras?

If you look at talent, Harris is one of the bests to ever do it. He only had one fumble over his entire Alabama football career, and it was a bad forward progress call. He has juked and hurdled his way through defenses, and he has plenty of records to his name. He is an all-around back who will make an NFL team very happy.

I would have Najee Harris as the second-best running back in Alabama football history behind only Derrick Henry. This is a tough debate, but I give a slight advantage to the Heisman winner who was impossible to tackle. Their skills aren’t very comparable, but I would still go with the unstoppable force that is King Henry.

That is not to discredit what Najee Harris did. He is a monster in his own right, and he still passed players like Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson and Josh Jacobs. However, I don’t think that there will ever be a collegiate player like Derrick Henry again.