Damien Harris,
five-star running back from Madison Southern High School in Berea, Ky.,
announced his commitment on Friday to the University of Alabama. He had trimmed
a big list of suitors to the Tide, Kentucky and Ohio State. He is the sixth
five-star to commit to Alabama in the 2015 class. Harris visited Alabama a few times during his recruitment including twice during the 2014 season. He attended the Tide's home wins against Auburn and Mississippi State. He was recruited heavily by Alabama since the start of his recruitment led by the efforts of Tide assistant coach, Kevin Steele.
Coach Burton Burns, who has a well known track record of developing elite college running backs, will become his position coach. These other players have included Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, Doak Walker award winner Trent Richardson and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Eddie Lacy. Harris has drawn some comparisons to Ingram with the two very similar in stature and running style.
Alabama signed another elite running back from the Bluegrass State several years
ago in NFL MVP Shaun Alexander.
"I really like the tradition," Harris said of the Crimson Tide. "I like the way they utilize their backs. They play a multi-back system. Their backs don't get beat up. They share carries so one back doesn't have to carry the full work load.
"I like how they get their backs involved with the offense. They also have great players around them like Amari Cooper. You can't load up the box against them. You can't put nine players in the box like they do in high school. Alabama has great players and great tradition. They have an incredible coaching staff led by Coach Saban."
Analysis:
Mike Farrell (Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst): "Harris has terrific burst, he hits the line of scrimmage quickly and makes quick decisions. He doesn't dance, he plants and cuts very well. He has excellent vision, so he usually makes the right choice. He bounces the play outside properly and is willing to take what he's given inside. He has good hands, gets upfield quickly and is a complete back. He has a chance to be a Heisman candidate before all is said and done if he contiues to progress at Alabama. He has that much potential.
"It's a perfect fit. The only question was whether he would leave home. He's made for a pro-style offense. He'll have a great offensive line in front of him and will learn from some very good backs ahead of him. 'Bama was the best choice from a football standpoint.
"LaDanian Tomlinson has been tossed around among our analysts. Jonathan Stewart comes to mind a bit although Harris isn't quite as filled out as Stewart was or Bryce Brown because he could do everything on the football field."
Woody Wommack (Rivals.com Southeast Analyst):: "Damien Harris is a tremendous addition for Alabama as it continues the tradition of great running back recruiting. Reaching into Kentucky to grab Harris after missing out on the state's top prospect last year (Matt Elam-Kentucky) shows that the Tide is still the premier destination in college football. His combination of speed and strength is a rarity of the position, and that's why he's ranked as the number one guy in this class."
"I really like the tradition," Harris said of the Crimson Tide. "I like the way they utilize their backs. They play a multi-back system. Their backs don't get beat up. They share carries so one back doesn't have to carry the full work load.
"I like how they get their backs involved with the offense. They also have great players around them like Amari Cooper. You can't load up the box against them. You can't put nine players in the box like they do in high school. Alabama has great players and great tradition. They have an incredible coaching staff led by Coach Saban."
Analysis:
Mike Farrell (Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst): "Harris has terrific burst, he hits the line of scrimmage quickly and makes quick decisions. He doesn't dance, he plants and cuts very well. He has excellent vision, so he usually makes the right choice. He bounces the play outside properly and is willing to take what he's given inside. He has good hands, gets upfield quickly and is a complete back. He has a chance to be a Heisman candidate before all is said and done if he contiues to progress at Alabama. He has that much potential.
"It's a perfect fit. The only question was whether he would leave home. He's made for a pro-style offense. He'll have a great offensive line in front of him and will learn from some very good backs ahead of him. 'Bama was the best choice from a football standpoint.
"LaDanian Tomlinson has been tossed around among our analysts. Jonathan Stewart comes to mind a bit although Harris isn't quite as filled out as Stewart was or Bryce Brown because he could do everything on the football field."
Woody Wommack (Rivals.com Southeast Analyst):: "Damien Harris is a tremendous addition for Alabama as it continues the tradition of great running back recruiting. Reaching into Kentucky to grab Harris after missing out on the state's top prospect last year (Matt Elam-Kentucky) shows that the Tide is still the premier destination in college football. His combination of speed and strength is a rarity of the position, and that's why he's ranked as the number one guy in this class."
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