Round 3, Pick No. 24 (87 overall): Damien Harris, RB, Alabama
Hometown: Richmond, KY
STRENGTHS
Shows patience and toughness as a runner. … Showed excellent ball security at Alabama with just two fumbles in his career and none over his final two seasons. … Solid in pass protection. … Has the size to succeed as a power back. … Shared carries throughout his college career, lessening his workload as he enters the NFL. … Finds open space effectively as a no-nonsense, between-the-tackles runner. … Capable receiver during his time with the Crimson Tide.
WEAKNESSES
Lacks the burst to get to the perimeter. … Doesn't make many tacklers miss. … Occasionally lowers head in short-yardage situation, causing him to miss potential openings. … No frills style allows defenses to understand how he is used. … Not effective in stop-and-start situations. … Will need to break tackles at the NFL level without Alabama's outstanding offensive line blasting away at overwhelmed opponents.
PERSONAL
Was a middle school teammate of Auburn quarterback and Patriots fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham growing up in Kentucky. … Was the 2014 Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year at Madison Southern (Ky.) High School. … Finished his high school career with the second-most touchdowns (122) and 11th-most rushing yards (6,748). … Harris was a communications major at Alabama and hopes to become a college football analyst after his playing days. … Twitter handle is @DHx34.
COMPARABLE NFL PLAYER
C.J. Anderson, RB, Detroit: Similar short and stocky frame with a power mentality. Anderson has carved out a solid career with several teams.
BY THE NUMBERS
Rushing/Receiving
| YEAR | GP | ATT. | YDS. | AVG. | TD | LONG | REC. | YDS. | AVG. | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 12 | 45 | 157 | 3.4 | 1 | 41 | 4 | 13 | 3.3 | 0 | 8 |
| 2016 | 15 | 146 | 1,037 | 7.1 | 2 | 73 | 14 | 99 | 7.1 | 2 | 56 |
| 2017 | 14 | 135 | 1,000 | 7.4 | 11 | 75 | 12 | 91 | 7.6 | 0 | 17 |
| 2018 | 15 | 150 | 876 | 5.8 | 9 | 73 | 22 | 204 | 9.3 | 0 | 52 |
| Total | 56 | 477 | 3,070 | 6.4 | 23 | 74 | 52 | 407 | 7.8 | 2 | 56 |
WORKOUT NUMBERS
| HARRIS | COMBINE AVG. FOR POS. | |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5-10 | 5-10 |
| Weight | 216 | 213 |
| 40 Yards | 4.57 | 4.56 |
| Bench | 16 | 20 |
| Vertical Jump | 37.0 | 32.5 |
| Long Jump | 10-1 | 10-1 |
| Shuttle | DNP | 4.32 |
| Cone | DNP | 7.18 |
DNP = Did Not Participate
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
He’s outstanding in pass protection, which you know is going to be great for the Patriots. He’s a north-south runner who runs through arm tackles and has very reliable hands. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah
