2021 NFL Draft: 5 Prospects raising their stock this season

2021 NFL Draft riser No. 1: Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

Alabama once again dominating the SEC with the help of some dynamic weapons. The two guys on the outside will get the much-deserved hype. However, the heart of the offense is the 6-2, 230-pound running back Najee Harris. The beefy ball carrier is carrying the Crimson Tide on his back.

Through seven games, Harris rushed for 714 yards averaging 5.8 yards per carry. His 14 rushing touchdowns lead the nation and he’s on pace for 28 touchdowns. He’s a tall runner for the most part but he understands leverage. While he’s a tenacious power runner, he knows how to get skinny and exploit creases at the line.

Once he gets going, he’s hard to stop, showing he’s capable of breaking off big runs. He’ll fight for extra yards with his constant churning, twisting away, and fighting through tackles. He’s an ideal fit for a downhill power scheme, allowing him to go north and south.

On third downs, he has added value as a pass-catcher. In 2020, Harris finished with over 300 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Although he hasn’t scored through the air in 2021, he is on pace to finish the season with over 40 catches.

Harris proved he’s a bell-cow back who’ll come in right away and help elevate a team’s running game. He could hear his name called after Clemson’s Travis Etienne, if not before given what a team wants from a running back selected early.