For the second time in as many years, a Southeastern Conference running back decided that two career 1,000-yard seasons weren't enough.
Georgia's Nick Chubb returned a year ago and added a third 1,000-yard performance to justify his decision to delay his NFL plans, and Alabama's Damien Harris is now looking to accomplish the same success as a senior. Only five SEC running backs have assembled three 1,000-yard seasons: Georgia's Herschel Walker and Chubb, LSU's Kevin Faulk and Arkansas' Darren McFadden and Alex Collins.
Harris smiled this past week when asked if joining such an elite club is serving as motivation in the weeks and months ahead.
"To be politically correct, no, but I would be lying to you if I told you I haven't ever thought of it," Harris said in a news conference. "At the end of the day, that's not what motivates me. What motivates me is being part of the team and being a leader for this team and being the best player I can be."
The 5-foot-11, 213-pounder from Richmond, Ky., has been quite impressive to this point, rushing for 1,000 yards last year after amassing 1,037 in his sophomore season. Though his yardage total dipped slightly, his eye-popping average per carry went from 7.1 yards in 2016 to 7.4, and his touchdown count skyrocketed from two to 11.
In his three seasons with the program, the Crimson Tide have compiled a 41-3 record with three appearances in the championship game of the sport's four-team playoff and two national titles.
"I feel very blessed to be a part of this program for three years," Harris said, "and when I was making the decision, that was what was heavy on my mind. This program has been so good to me, and the people in this program have done a lot for me, and I'm incredibly thankful. I just want another year of this."
Said Alabama coach Nick Saban: "We're happy to have him back. Damien wanted to finish his education. He likes college. He likes school."
Harris was listed last October by CBS as one of the top 20 overall prospects for the 2018 draft, but ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper suggested several weeks later that it would be wise for him to remain in Tuscaloosa. The Tide's backup running back last season, Bo Scarbrough, elected in January to forgo his senior year.
Largely due to Alabama's continuing wealth at tailback and the Tide's ability to win six games last season by more than 30 points, Harris will enter his final year without much wear and tear on his body. His 281 carries the past two seasons paled in comparison to some of the other top tailbacks in the SEC, such as Auburn's Kerryon Johnson (467), Chubb (447), LSU's Derrius Guice (420) and even Georgia's Sony Michel (308).
Harris has 327 career carries, which is 68 fewer than Alabama's Derrick Henry compiled during his Heisman Trophy-winning season in 2015.
Productive numbers always have seemed synonymous with Harris, who is working this spring under a new offensive coordinator (Mike Locksley) and a new position coach (Joe Pannunzio). That should be the case again later this year, when he heads a backfield containing the proven likes of Josh Jacobs, Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr.
For now, it's not about any numbers but steering his teammates from any potential of becoming complacent.
"Our success will not be inherited from what we did last season," he said. "If anything, what we did last year just puts a bigger target on our backs."
Tide tidbits
The Tuscaloosa News reported Saturday that Alabama and Notre Dame are negotiating a future home-and-home series, which would be the first since the 1986 (Birmingham) and 1987 (South Bend) seasons. The Crimson Tide held their third spring practice Saturday afternoon, working out for two hours in shoulder pads and shorts. Jackson Bratton (6-3, 215), a four-star linebacker in the 2020 class out of Muscle Shoals, Ala., committed Saturday to the Tide.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.