The general consensus is that Josh Jacobs is the best of the Alabama running backs. But why is that? It seems reasonable that Damien Harris, picked two rounds later, might end up having a better pro career.
If you go off production, Harris is the better of these two backs. Three years in a row at Alabama, he ran for more yards with a higher yards-per-carry average.
And if you’re a measurables guy, Harris looks slightly better. They’re about the same size. Harris ran a 4.57 at the combine. Jacobs opted not to run at the combine. Per written reports, he ran slightly slower at his pro day, then slightly faster at a follow-up session. But he wasn’t electronically timed. You’re getting into stopwatch times, and with different scouts having different agendas.
Harris measured 10-foot-1 in the long jump at the combine – 9 inches longer. Harris has a 37-inch vertical. I don’t see a vertical for Jacobs. In the bench press, Jacobs was slightly better (18 reps vs. 16).
When you watch the highlights packages for these guys, Jacobs looks a little better. He’s definitely a better pass catcher. He seems to be built lower to the ground, with better cutting ability. But it’s not a knockout. It’s not easy to see. If, for last three months, everyone had been saying that Harris was the better of these two backs, we’d probably all be nodding out heads and agreeing.
For 2019 on my board, I’ll have Jacobs graded higher. He’s a better pass catcher, and I think he’ll get more touches.
But I don’t see Harris as chopped liver. I would think the Patriots probably will go to a one-two punch of tailbacks, with Harris getting plenty of work behind Sony Michel. Michel gets hurt at some point, and Harris could be rolling up plenty of yards and touchdowns.
During Nick Saban’s tenure at Alabama, he’s had six running backs selected with first- and second-round picks. But none of those guys ever had a season where they ran for 1,000 yards and averaged over 7 yards per carry. Harris has done that. Twice.
| ALABAMA RUNNING BACKS RUNNING FOR 500 YARDS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Player | Att | Yards | Avg | TD |
| 2013 | Kenyan Drake | 92 | 694 | 7.54 | 8 |
| 2017 | Damien Harris | 135 | 1,000 | 7.41 | 11 |
| 2016 | Damien Harris | 146 | 1,037 | 7.10 | 2 |
| 2011 | Eddie Lacy | 95 | 674 | 7.09 | 7 |
| 2018 | Najee Harris | 117 | 783 | 6.69 | 4 |
| 2016 | Josh Jacobs | 85 | 567 | 6.67 | 4 |
| 2016 | Bo Scarbrough | 125 | 812 | 6.50 | 11 |
| 2012 | Eddie Lacy | 204 | 1,322 | 6.48 | 17 |
| 2012 | T.J. Yeldon | 175 | 1,108 | 6.33 | 12 |
| 2010 | Trent Richardson | 112 | 700 | 6.25 | 6 |
| 2009 | Mark Ingram | 271 | 1,658 | 6.12 | 17 |
| 2013 | T.J. Yeldon | 207 | 1,235 | 5.97 | 14 |
| 2008 | Glen Coffee | 233 | 1,383 | 5.94 | 10 |
| 2011 | Trent Richardson | 283 | 1,679 | 5.93 | 21 |
| 2018 | Damien Harris | 150 | 876 | 5.84 | 9 |
| 2014 | Derrick Henry | 172 | 990 | 5.76 | 11 |
| 2015 | Derrick Henry | 395 | 2,219 | 5.62 | 28 |
| 2010 | Mark Ingram | 158 | 875 | 5.54 | 13 |
| 2018 | Josh Jacobs | 120 | 640 | 5.33 | 11 |
| 2009 | Trent Richardson | 145 | 751 | 5.18 | 8 |
| 2008 | Mark Ingram | 143 | 728 | 5.09 | 12 |
| 2014 | T.J. Yeldon | 194 | 979 | 5.05 | 11 |
| 2007 | Terry Grant | 180 | 891 | 4.95 | 8 |
| 2017 | Bo Scarbrough | 124 | 596 | 4.81 | 8 |
| 2007 | Glen Coffee | 129 | 545 | 4.22 | 4 |
—Ian Allan