Miami’s rushing attack wasn’t the worst in the NFL in 2020, as it had been in 2019, but the Dolphins still used five starting running backs to rank 22nd in rushing yards among the NFL’s 32 teams this season.
Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa knows a player who might settle and strengthen the Dolphins’ running-back situation – former Alabama teammate Najee Harris.
During an interview with Yahoo Sports’ Eric Edholm on behalf of sponsor Muscle Milk, Tagovailoa gave a scouting report on Harris.
“He’s a well-rounded running back,” Tagovailoa said. “He’s very athletic, he can run, he can make a man miss, he can power through someone and then he’s very good in the pass game. Not just with his catching, but I think what’s overshadowed by his success with the catches and the runs is his blocking.
“He’s going to be a fun guy to watch this upcoming season, so I’m excited to see him. Hopefully, we’re on the same team. Who knows?”
With 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns on 251 carries and 43 receptions for 425 yards and four touchdowns in his senior season, Harris concluded his four years at Alabama by earning unanimous All-American recognition in 2020.
With 3,843 yards and 46 touchdowns on 638 rushing attempts and 80 receptions for 781 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career, Harris replaced Derrick Henry as Alabama’s rushing leader and Shaun Alexander as the Crimson Tide’s top TD scorer.
ALABAMA’S TOP 10 NFL RUSHERS: DERRICK HENRY ON THE MOVE
In 2019, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick led Miami in rushing with 243 yards and four touchdowns on 54 carries.
In 2020, the Dolphins had three running backs top Fitzpatrick’s 2019 rushing total.
Myles Gaskin ran for 584 yards and three touchdowns on 142 carries and caught 41 passes for 388 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games, with seven starts, for Miami in 2020.
Salvon Ahmed ran for 319 yards and three touchdowns on 75 carries and caught 11 passes for 61 yards in six games, with four starts.
Matt Breida ran for 254 yards on 59 carries and caught nine passes for 96 yards in 12 games, with one start.
DeAndre Washington had one start among his three appearances, and he ran for 86 yards on 28 carries. Former Gardendale High School and UAB standout Jordan Howard ran for 33 yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries in five games, with three starts.
The Dolphins have Gaskin and Ahmed under contract for the 2021 season.
Miami has four selections among the first 50 choices in the 2021 NFL Draft – third and 18th in first round and 36th and 50th in the second round. Third would appear too early for Harris to be under consideration, but 18th on April 29 or 36th on April 30 might be possibilities.
Miami acquired Tagovailoa with the fifth selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Dolphins haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Jay Ajayi, who ran for 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns on 260 carries in 2016. In the four seasons since, Miami hasn’t had a ball-carrier reach 750 rushing yards, and the Dolphins finished 29th, 18th, 32nd and 22nd in rushing offense in the NFL.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.
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