Alabama Football: Crimson Tide Top 10 All-Time Rushers
By Ronald Evans
No. 9 Damien Harris (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
- Career Rushing – 3,070 yards on 477 carries
- Career Yards-Per-Carry average of 6.44 yards; Crimson Tide No. 3 all-time
It can be argued the eight Alabama running backs above Harris in the career rushing list all had easily seen superlative abilities. It can also be said such a description does not apply to Damien Harris. What Harris lacked in sizzle, he made up for with substance. He was tough, smart, and a consistent performer.
In four Alabama football seasons, Damien Harris never had more than 150 carries in a season. As a freshman, backing up Derrick Henry, Harris had only 46 carries. His 3.7-yard average that season gave little indication of what an important contributor he would become. Going into the Crimson Tide’s 2016 season, almost all the running back buzz was about Bo Scarbrough. Harris was pretty much an afterthought.
But it was Harris that led Alabama’s running backs in the 2016 season. His carries were reduced because the Crimson Tide also used Sccarbrough and Josh Jacobs. Still, Damien Harris rushed for 1,037 yards, with a gaudy yards-per-carry average of 7.1 yards. Harris was even better in 2016, rushing for a 7.4-yard average.