The questions seemed reasonable before Alabama’s season opener last weekend against Florida State in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Would Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough pick up where he left off before breaking his leg in January’s national championship game against Clemson? Would freshman tailback Najee Harris have a breakout debut similar to T.J. Yeldon during the 2012 opener against Michigan in Alabama’s first trip to AT&T Stadium in Texas? Would quarterback Jalen Hurts regain his midseason form from a year ago and rush for more than 100 yards?
None of those scenarios transpired during Alabama’s 24-7 smothering of the Seminoles.
Instead, it was the underappreciated Damien Harris leading the charge. The 5-foot-11, 221-pound junior from Richmond, Ky., opened the game with a 34-yard run, blocked a third-quarter punt to set up a field goal and scored from 11 yards out late in the third for a 19-7 lead, which coupled with the two-point conversion all but sealed the outcome.
“I thought Damien did an outstanding job,” coach Nick Saban said. “He has practiced really well and had a good camp. He and Bo – maybe we’ll get Josh Jacobs (hamstring) back – and Najee Harris are all guys who I think can contribute at that position, but Damien had a really good night and made some big runs for us.”