Damien Harris, Alabama: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Alabama’s Damien Harris is a consistent performer who doesn’t get nearly the amount of attention he deserves.

Damien Harris is often overshadowed by the much larger Bo Scarbrough. However, he’s a better runner and NFL draft prospect. Harris is a steady player who routinely gets the most out of his opportunities. He also flashes the ability to produce some big plays.

His best attribute is his balanced and quick jump-cut. This allows him to make smooth adjustments when working through the line of scrimmage. He also features the quick-twitch ability to accelerate once he finds the open hole.

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Harris is a hard-nosed runner who has a knack for bouncing off tacklers. He is rarely brought down by first contact which helps routinely gain positive yards.

His ability to break tackles can also be tied to his low center of gravity and balance. Harris does a great job running behind his pads and working north and south. This allows him to be extremely effective working between the tackles.

Alabama’s offensive attack doesn’t provide Harris with many opportunities to attack the edge. He also doesn’t appear to have that elite speed needed to be extremely productive in this type of system.

The Alabama offensive line is something that must be considered when evaluating Harris. This group features a lot of talent and often creates a lot of running room. Harris doesn’t often deal with pressure in the backfield or fast closing holes.

Another area where Harris needs work is as a pass protector. He doesn’t use proper technique when as to protect the quarterback. Harris fails to get a wide base and use his hands. He typically looks to throw a shoulder in to the defender.

Alabama does ask Harris to run routes from time to time. He shows good balance and the ability to find the opening in the defense. His strong hands allow him to pluck the ball away from his frame and potentially develop into a strong pass-catcher at the next level.

Overall, Harris is someone who can produce in the NFL. He may not produce a lot of wow plays, but will be someone who can consistently move the chains. However, Harris does need to improve his pass blocking if he hopes to earn snaps.