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With no Tua Tagovailoa to anchor the quarterback position, Alabama’s offense will look much different this year. Mac Jones will likely be the game one starter, with 5-star freshman Bryce Young likely getting some playing time, too.
However, anonymous SEC coaches who recently spoke to AthlonsSports.com think running back Najee Harris will have a Heisman Trophy-like season. Harris decided to return to Alabama instead of heading to the NFL, and he’s been on the front lines of the “WeWantToPlay” player movement. He looks to boost his draft status during his senior year.
SEC coaches fear Harris is on the brink of a Heisman run.
“This is going to be a Heisman campaign season for Najee Harris, go ahead and make your bet,” one coach said.
Another coach thinks the freshman Young is the more talented quarterback when compared to Jones, but the coach also thinks that Harris will be the center piece of the offense for Steve Sarkisian.
“They don’t have a quarterback locked in, and the more talented guy in the QB race has never been in the system. And their other weakness on offense is turning over receivers. So we think (offensive coordinator) Steve Sarkisian is gonna find ways to scheme Najee into everything they can, kind of the way Lane Kiffin did with Amari Cooper a few years back.”
Coaches also just aren’t buying the fact that Alabama is in a decline.
“It’s overblown that they’re on the decline. Maybe marginally? Maybe? But at what perspective? This is still the most successful dynasty in the history of the sport,” one coach said.
Alabama kicks off the 2020 season on September 26 against Missouri.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
