It’s safe to say that Alabama running back Damien Harris was not caught off guard when he got The Question. There is not one competent journalist in Atlanta for Southeastern Conference Media Days who is not aware that he or she is not going to be the one who gets the answer to “Jalen or Tua?” and yet it is probably the most discussed subject in the interview rooms, hallways, and hotel bar. And it's the question that goes to everyone associated with the Crimson Tide program.

Will Jalen Hurts start for the third year at quarterback for Alabama, or does the job go to Tua Tagovailoa (and beyond that the ramifications after Coach Nick Saban settles on the No. 1 man)?

Damien Harris is an offensive player, and more or less avoided tackling the question head on. He did, though, discuss the Crimson Tide quarterback situation.

“We have two guys who have played the quarterback position at a very high level, two guys who are incredible leaders for our team,” Harris said. “Whatever happens, whatever Coach Saban decides is best for the team, but right now we have two guys who have very infectious personalities, two guys that people love to be around, two guys that people love to play alongside of.

“Whatever happens after Coach Saban decides, either one of them can handle the situation. They have been very respectable, push each other every day to be better.

“You’d never think it was much of a competition going on, how close they are.. They are always together, always working together. The whole team feels that whichever wins the job they will be supported.”

There is speculation that the fallout of a final selection could include the loser heading for greener pastures. Harris noted that running backs are less likely to transfer than quarterbacks.

He said, “The running back position is one where multiple people play. Quarterback more is just one. Backup quarterbacks don’t get to play much and I think that’s probably why more of them transfer.”

Damien Harris goes for a third straight 1,000-yard rushing season

Alabama’s massive turnover in assistant coaches and coaching assignments means Harris will be working under a new offensive coordinator in Mike Locksley, and the running back expects changes in the offense.

“Every coach has his own style,” Harris said. “Everybody is different. He definitely brings new things to the table, but as far as how he’s going to call plays and how he’s going to do the playbook and how he wants to run the offense, we’re still trying to figure him out and he’s still trying to figure us out. We’ve still got a lot to do as an offensive unit, but we’ve made a lot of strides in the right direction.”

Regardless of any tweaks that might be made in Alabama’s offense, Harris pointed to a staple of Crimson Tide preparation when asked if he ever “hit the wall,” the point where athletes lose effectiveness.

“I’ve never experienced that,” he said. “We train for that every single day.

“At some point in a game, maybe the second quarter, third quarter, even fourth quarter maybe in a close game, you look across the line and see that look in their eyes that they are finally starting to give in. We come at them play after play after play. You give us your best shot, but we’re going to keep attacking you until you finally give in.”

Harris made several references to the importance of the offensive line in Alabama offensive performance.

He said, “Any sort of success I have I always refer to them because without them I wouldn’t have the ability to do what I do.” Harris has had back-to-back seasons in which he has rushed for 1,000 yards. He points out the number of times that Bama running backs will “run untouched for 10 or 15 yards. That’s not because we’re playing against bad defenses. Any success we have runs through the offensive line. We’re very fortunate to have a great offensive line and great offensive line coach. It’s the foundation.”

Harris also touched on some former teammates, those who have moved on to the NFL.

“It’s incredibly special to play with those guys we have get drafted,” he said. “To see those guys get to achieve their dream is a truly special feeling for their teammates and friends.

“And it’s motivating. Here we are about to start fall camp and we see those guys who worked hard for what they got so it’s motivation that you have to work hard to get what you want to achieve.”

Most reporters are predicting this year’s SEC Championship Game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be a rematch of Alabama and Georgia, which played for the national championship there at the end of last season. Harris isn’t concerned about the news value of another Bama vs. Bulldogs event.

If Alabama makes the conference title game, Harris said, “It doesn’t really matter who we play. If we end up playing Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, so be it, but we’re more concerned about how we play than who we play.”

The Alabama vs. Georgia scenario includes the Bulldogs being coached by longtime Tide assistant Kirby Smart. Harris said Tide players weren’t surprised at Smart’s success.

“We kind of expected that,” Harris said. “He was a great coordinator for us. We knew he would turn the program around.

“It was great to play them in the national championship game – two great teams, two great programs, great coaches. Being able to play against them was truly an honor.”

Expansion of the Nick Saban Coaching Tree, particularly in the SEC, is interesting. In addition to Smart at Georgia, Saban and Alabama will face Tennessee with Jeremy Pruitt as head coach and Texas A&M with Jimbo Fisher every year, and will sometimes go against Smart and against South Carolina with Will Muschamp.

Harris said, “Good for them (assistants who move on). Anyone who is a member of the family is always a member of the family. Good to see them have success.”

(This is the second of three parts from our conversation with Damien Harris at SEC Media Days. Next: It wasn’t all serious.)