2021 WorldWide Rams Draft Profile: Najee Harris | Alabama | RB

worldwide rams

Ed "Pi Double I" Henderson

Player Bio: Najee Harris prepped at Antioch High School in Antioch, CA, as he was the overall prep prospect of all primary schools. At Antioch High, Harris rushed for over 7,948 yards prep career, placing him fourth on the California state rushing list. Harris rushed for over 2,000 yards each of his sophomore through senior year, 2,776 yards and 36 touchdowns during his senior season, ran for 2,744 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior, and rushed for 2,263 yards and 23 touchdowns in his sophomore year. He received invites to the 2017 Army All-American Bowl, invited to participate in Nike's "The Opening" in 2015 and 2016. Harris was named to numerous teams and awards, as the 2015 Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Football State Player of the Year, named the All-Metro Player of the Year by The San Francisco Chronicle in both 2015 and 2016. Named MVP of the 2016 Rivals 100 Five-Star Challenge, 2017 first-team Parade All-American, 2016 Bobby Dodd National High School Running Back of the Year, 2015 and 2016 first-team All-USA selection by USA Today.
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ACCOLADES
2021 NFL Combine Invite
2021 Reece's Senior Bowl
2020 AP All-SEC First-Team
2020 Coaches All-SEC First-Team
2020 AP All-America First-Team
2020 CBS Sports All-America First-Team
2020 ESPN.com All-America First-Team
2020 FWAA All-America First-Team
2020 The Sporting News All-America First-Team
2020 Pro Football Focus
2020 USA Today All-America Second-Team 
2020 Doak Walker Award Finalist
2020 Maxwell Award Semifinalist
2020 SEC Community Service Team
2020 Jason Witten Man of the Year Finalist
2020 SEC Championship MVP
2020 AP Preseason All-American Second Team
2020 The Sporting News Preseason All-American Second Team
2020 USA Today Preseason All-American Second Team
2020 Walter Camp Preseason All-American Second Team
2020 Doak Walker Award Watch List 
2020 Maxwell Award Watch List
2019 Associated Press All-SEC Second Team
2019 Coaches All-SEC Second Team
2019 Pro Football Focus All-America Honorable Mention
2019 Athlon Preseason All-American Second Team
2019 Doak Walker Preseason Player of the Year Watch List
2019 Maxwell Preseason Player of the Year Watch List
2019 Walter Camp Preseason Player of the Year Watch List

NAJEE HARRIS
RUNNING BACK
HOMETOWN                      |           CLASS
ANTIOCH, CA                     |           SENIOR 
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DRAFT YR:  2021              COMBINE INVITE: YES

​HEIGHT                    WEIGHT                    ARMS
6' 2"                230 lbs            35 5/8"

HANDS                   PROJECTED 40-TIME            DRAFT GRADE
9 3/4"                       4.40                       6.46

SCHOOL:  ALABAMA                                    |                    CONFERENCE: SEC
​        
COMBINE RESULTS 
40 YD DASH     |     BENCH PRESS     |     VERTICAL JUMP     |     BROAD JUMP     |     3 CONE DRILL     |     20 YD SHUTTLE    
​       DNP         |              DNP              |               DNP            |             DNP           |             DNP             |              DNP                      
                                                             
​PRO DAY RESULTS
40 YD DASH     |     BENCH PRESS     |     VERTICAL JUMP     |     BROAD JUMP     |     3 CONE DRILL     |     20 YD SHUTTLE    
​       DNP         |              DNP              |               DNP             |            DNP          |             DNP             |              DNP

game film
#22 Najee Harris vs florida Sec championship (2020)

#22 Najee Harris college highlights (2020)

Strengths: He has a massive frame and the prototype of a prominent NFL running back. A mighty and explosive runner with good speed that can get outside the edge of the defense. He has an excellent vision that allows him to follow his blocks while running through the open run lanes. A patience back that reads his blocks and waits for the blocks to develop before exploding through the free run gaps. He has a north to south run style but will get east to west in a heartbeat before redirecting himself back on route. To add to his craft, he is a powerful runner that will run through attempted arm tackles or set up the tackler with a  deadly spin move. His combination of speed and power creates his skill level of an every-down back. He is a very productive receiver out of the backfield with great hands and runs decent routes. A total mismatch isolated against a linebacker one-on-one as a receiver. He has excellent awareness as a pass blocker and knows when to release out the backfield for a pass.​ These skills gives him an competitive edge over any other running back in this 2021 NFL Draft.

Weaknesses: He lacks the breakaway speed from defenders that limit his big-play ability, and he doesn't have that long speed to take it the distance. He has an upright run style similar to Eric Dickerson, which allows the defenders to get free hits on his torso. Play to high above the pad level, and it will be imperative that he develop more knee bend in his run style. Not a shifty back and limited elusiveness that requires him to spin moves that will get him in trouble at the next level. Stout defenses that defend the run will limit his run average despite his 6.1 yards average at Alabama. He needs to enhance his pass protection ability and be required at the next level to stay in for added pass protection.

Draft Projection: Late 1st -2nd Round

NFL Comparison: Derrick Henry

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