Alabama will have its leading rusher for one more season.

Junior running back Najee Harris will pass on the 2020 NFL Draft and return to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for his senior year, a source close to the program confirmed to BamaOnLine. Harris is not expected to make an announcement on social media like his Crimson Tide teammates.

The Antioch, Calif., native has been back in Tuscaloosa since this past weekend.

Alabama’s No. 1 running back this fall, Harris topped 1,000 yards as the first option out of the backfield for the Crimson Tide this season. A former 5-star recruit, Harris rushed for 1,224 yards and 13 touchdowns on 209 carries, averaging 5.86 yards per rushing attempt this fall. He also caught 27 passes and turned them into 304 yards and seven receiving touchdowns.

In the SEC this past season, Harris was among the best players at his position. Harris’ 13 rushing touchdowns in 13 games tied for second in the conference, while he ranked third in carries (209), fourth in rushing yards (1,224) and sixth in yards per game (94.15). He was tied for ninth in receiving scores (7), which led all SEC tailbacks in that statistical category.

Harris is only 1,214 yards behind Derrick Henry as Alabama’s all-time leading rusher with 2,377 yards for his career. Henry finished his career with a program-best 3,591 rushing yards.

“I think Najee has always been a really good back,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said earlier this season. “I think his understanding of the opportunity that each play presents if you trust the hole and sort of read the gaps as they come to you, I think he’s gotten much more comfortable with that, and I think he’s had a very positive outcome because of that.

“So, we’re very pleased with what he’s been for us as a runner, a blocker and a pass receiver. He’s been very effective.”

Underclassmen have until Jan. 20 to declare for the 2020 NFL Draft. Three Alabama juniors have already announced they will return to Tuscaloosa in Dylan Moses, Alex Leatherwood and DeVonta Smith while Jedrick Wills, Jerry Jeudy, Xavier McKinney, Tua Tagovailoa and Henry Ruggs III elected to forego their senior seasons and enter the NFL draft this year.

Contact Charlie Potter by personal message or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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