2021 NFL Draft: Najee Harris will be coveted for this amazing stat

Alabama RB Najee Harris will be coveted in the 2021 NFL Draft for this amazing stat.

The running back position has depreciated in value significantly over the course of the last 30 years, but there’s no question that it is still a highly valued position in the NFL…there are just a lot of players who can do the job well.

The 2021 NFL Draft features one particular running back in Alabama’s Najee Harris — a player who could have easily been a top 75 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft — who will be coveted by NFL teams.

There are many reasons for that.

At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, Harris has a unique body type for the running back position and his game is a blend of speed, power, pass-catching ability, and just all around really good football IQ.

In addition to his skill set, Harris has tremendous production. He has already rushed for 14 touchdowns in 2020, a career-high which he has set in just five games. He has averaged over six yards per carry over the course of his four seasons with the Crimson Tide, and his 51 receptions have not all been easy screen catches. This guy has some legitimate wide receiver-type skills when he’s asked to make an impact in the passing game.

With all of that said, one particular stat Harris has going for him could cause him to be one of the most coveted running backs in the entire 2021 NFL Draft.

Harris had his first ever ‘fumble’ as a member of the Crimson Tide earlier in October against Ole Miss, and there was a massive discrepancy over whether or not he actually fumbled the ball. After the game, he said he took the call of fumble personally.

Approaching 550 touches at the collegiate level and counting, even if Harris did fumble the ball, just one fumble on nearly 550 touches is incredible.

Ball security is huge, and being able to trust your featured running back is crucial. Like having a good kicker, punter, or long snapper, having a running back who doesn’t struggle with ball security isn’t something you really notice unless they have a problem with it.

Najee Harris is a guy who can get the ball 20-25 times a game, and the coaching staff doesn’t have to worry about him putting the ball in harm’s way on those looks.

That is a huge factor in his favor as he approaches playing on Sundays.