With the 87th pick overall and the 24th in Round 3 of the 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville, Tennessee, the New England Patriots selected former Alabama running back Damien Harris.
Rooooll Pats @DHx34 #BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/4dpmpvUY69
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) April 27, 2019
The Crimson Tide had two players chosen Thursday. Tight end Irv Smith Jr. went earlier in Round 2.
Harris finished his Alabama career as one of the most productive running backs in school history. He is one of only eight players in school history to rush for 3,000 yards, finishing eighth in school history with 3,070 yards. He is 11th in school history with 477 carries and tied for 13th in school history with 23 rushing touchdowns.
OTHER ALABAMA PICKS: Quinnen Williams | Jonah Williams | Josh Jacobs | Irv Smith | Deionte Thompson | Christian Miller | Ross Pierschbacher | Mack Wilson | Isaiah Buggs
He also holds the school record for yards per carry among backs with 400+ carries; Harris averaged 6.44 yards per carry on 477 carries. He’s fourth in SEC history in yards per carry among backs with 400+ carries, trailing Bo Jackson, Derrius Guice and Todd Gurley.
He was second-team All-SEC during his senior season in 2018 and named a permanent team captain. Harris could have entered the 2018 draft but chose to come back after posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2017 and 2018.
Harris was also a reliable blocker and receiver out of the backfield, finishing his career with 52 receptions for 407 yards and two touchdowns.
He accomplished all that despite sharing carries with several other running backs through his career. Fellow draftee Josh Jacobs’ career overlapped with Harris, as did Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake during his freshman season in 2015. Bo Scarbrough and Najee Harris also shared the backfield with Damien Harris.
