ATLANTA -- Alabama running back Damien Harris put his right hand on top of the loosely fit SEC championship snapback hat on his head. He couldn't stop moving it around his head and his face couldn't stop making a smile as he gushed over the freshman quarterback who helped make wearing that hat possible.

"I feel like my words won't do him any justice," Harris said after Alabama's 54-16 win over Florida in last week's SEC title game. "You turn on the tape and you see what this guy does and it speaks for itself."

Of course, Harris is talking about Jalen Hurts. The somewhat soft-spoken, jitterbug quarterback who set Tuscaloosa ablaze with his fancy feet and big arm and first true freshman to ever start at quarterback for Nick Saban made waves just about every time he took the field in 2016.

And on the eve of the Heisman Trophy presentation -- which will likely come down to two fleet-footed quarterbacks similar to Alabama's -- Hurts can sit patiently, knowing that in a year's time, if he grows from the player he is now, he very well could be in New York in front of the bronze beauty himself.

"Jalen's been incredible," said left tackle and Outland Award winner Cam Robinson. "For a guy to be that young, and as composed, and as cool, and as calm as he is under any circumstance, that's incredible. I know I've never seen it from a freshman before. I don't know if I've seen anyone be that calm before.

"He's a special kid."

Jalen Hurts dazzled as a freshman and has a lot more to offer in the years ahead. AP Photo/Butch Dill

Hurts didn't make the Heisman cut this year. There was a little talk earlier in the season but it fizzled in November, as guys such as Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Jabrill Peppers pushed to the top. Hurts was forgotten in the national conversation, but he did a tremendous job taking over the SEC with every criss and cross he made to slip and slide through and around defenses.

The early enrollee with little hope in the quarterback conversation back in March just strutted through the season with No. 1 Alabama and is headed to the College Football Playoff. His 3,433 total yards of offense and 34 touchdowns helped him win SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and were instrumental in Alabama's undefeated romp through 2016 that has it as the overwhelming favorite to win its second national championship in as many years.

With Hurts directing the offense, Alabama won 12 of 13 games by double digits. In the process, Hurts averaged 264.1 yards per game and 2.6 touchdowns per game. Hurts threw for 2,592 yards and 22 touchdowns to nine interceptions, while ranking second on the team with 841 rushing yards and a team-best 12 touchdowns.

This season, the literal new kid on the block used only part of Lane Kiffin's jam-packed playbook and became one of the league's most exciting players. Sure, he turned the ball over 14 times and the touch and accuracy on his deep throws need some work. But consider his youth and full understanding of this offense.

There are novels left of untouched pages for Hurts to dive into.

It can't be stressed enough that the teenage sensation is running the zone-read -- which rumor has it was outlawed within the Tuscaloosa city limits until only recently -- with Saban as his head coach. Saban once loathed it and then Kiffin completely adapted his offense to Hurts' specialties. Hurts forced Alabama and Saban to get completely out of their comfort zones.

And it isn't even close to being completely ironed out. Hurts is growing, but he's still extremely raw in areas, which has led teammates to be even more impressed with the youngster.

"That's what's scary," Robinson said. "I don't even think he's scratched the surface with how good he can be or how good he will be."

The talent is obvious, but so is the composure. The kid doesn't flinch. He might make mistakes, but they never affect him. Pressure doesn't get to him.

A sack-fumble touchdown that gave Ole Miss a 24-3 lead in the second quarter on Sept. 17 did little to rattle him, as he helped Alabama drop 23 straight points in their eventual 48-43 victory. He ignored the 4k-quality visuals inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to come off the bench and total 150 yards and four touchdowns in the season-opening win over USC.

Rambunctious Baton Rouge didn't frighten him on Nov. 5 in a game in which he scored the only touchdown.

"You never see in his eyes that he's wavering," offensive lineman Bradley Bozeman said.

Bozeman thought Hurts should have had a seat in New York this weekend. It might be a stretch when you look at who's there, but it shows you what Hurts' teammates think of him. It shows you how much he's meant to the best team in the country.

Next year, he'll show himself to his own seat in Times Square.