An afternoon with Alabama's first Class of 2017 football commit, Najee Harris
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ANTIOCH, Calif. - Clad in Alabama crimson football shorts and shirt, Antioch (Calif.) sophomore Najee Harris looked very much the part of recent verbal commit.
Photo by Mitch Stephens
Najee Harris, Antioch
The Antioch sophomore running back just returned from a three-day trip to Tuscaloosa on Monday, but made it clear he didn't really want to talk recruiting or even his pledge to Alabama.
Yes, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound running back confirmed he told coach Nick Saban and linebacker coach/west coast recruiter Tosh Lupoi on Saturday he had committed to the Crimson Tide. But he also wanted the news to be released slowly to keep him, for at least a little bit, under the radar.
Not a chance.
Harris, who boasts a big smile and a friendly, outgoing demeanor, is naturally quiet and humble, say his coaches, teammates and school administrators. They love his grounded, team-first approach and that he was low-key after scoring a school-record 23 rushing touchdowns last season.
Everything from his frame to his work-first attitude is mature, but he was definitely not prepared for the onslaught of media attention that came with being Alabama's first 2017 commitment.
He said within 30 seconds of him telling Saban and Lupoi, there were tweets out that he committed. From there, it was a media feeding frenzy.
"I couldn't believe it," he said. "I was shocked. I really was."
He and his mom's message machines were filled with interview requests by Sunday. Twitter was bursting with reports that the nation's No. 16 sophomore recruit — according to 247Sports — and No. 2 running back had pledged to arguably the nation's top program.
Harris was on everyone's radar.
CBS Sports Network recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, on his nationwide tour that requires 50-60,000 driving miles annually, had a scheduled interview with Harris Monday morning on the Antioch campus.
By the afternoon when we arrived, Harris was understandably tentative to share much about his Alabama visit. He could sense an avalanche might be approaching. Not only from the press, but other college programs. He said he already heard from Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.
"The trip was nice," he said. "It was the second time visiting there so it was good to meet coach Saban and everyone again. I had fun there. I had a lot of fun actually. The staff was real nice, as were all the people there. It was a good time."
He knows keeping a commitment for two years is a long time — all commitments are non-binding. Only when an athlete signs a National Letter of Intent, in Harris' case February of 2017, is the recruiting process complete and legally binding. "Yes, it's a long time. I'll try not to think about it too much. I just liked what I saw there."
Harris helped turn around an Antioch program that was 1-9 in 2013 to 7-5 last year and a playoff winner. "I kind of like rebuilding, but you definitely don't need to rebuild at Alabama."
He's working on his speed by running track this spring. He also wants to improve on his cuts and blocking.
"I have a long list of things I want to get better at," he said.
His goals next season are to improve his school records for yards in a game (375), season (2,263) and rushing touchdowns (23), and repeat as Bay Valley Athletic League Most Valuable Player.
Lemming, reached by phone, said Harris is the nation's top offensive recruit for 2017, and better at this stage than Joe Mixon, a top national running back from the Class of 2013 who played five miles up the road at Freedom (Oakley) in the same BVAL.
Photo by Ernie Abrea
Najee Harris, Antioch
Mixon, a 5-star running back, signed at Oklahoma but was suspended last season. He is back on the Oklahoma team and will split time in the fall with NCAA record holder Samaje Perine.
"(Harris) is bigger than I thought he was when I saw him on film," Lemming said. "He's got the great combination of power and speed and moves to be a big-time college back."
Combine that with Harris' nature and maturity, and "I can see him making a lot of money at this game."
Lemming, who started covering recruiting 36 years ago, said "I've seen a lot of talented kids like Najee who couldn't handle the attention. I really like his humble personality, attention to school and his ability to keep his feet on the ground."
Harris said a challenging upbringing and loving mom have always kept him balanced. It's all helped him keep his head on straight.
"Fans, random people you don't know all come at you," he said. "I handle it like I'm still nothing. I act like I am a regular person because I am just a regular person. … I don't look at all the success and think like 'I'm the man,' because I know I'm not. I just like to put my head down and move forward."
Much like he does on the field, although he keeps his head and knees up.
Football is a huge part of his life, he said, but he doesn't want it to define him.
"I love football — I really do," he said. "But eventually I have to tell myself this will end some day." Photo by Mitch Stephens
Najee Harris on Antioch's new football field.
