TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Damien Harris said it best two years ago.

“All running backs are recruited to play college football because they can run the ball, but it’s those intangible features -- blocking, catching out of the backfield, running good routes -- that’s kind of what separates you and takes you to the next level as a player.”

That’s why junior running backs Najee Harris and Brian Robinson, who are coming from stellar high school careers where pass protection was either non-existent or consisted of picking up the defender their quarterbacks pointed out prior to the snap, have focused on blocking in fall camp.

And that emphasis has translated to the field.

“They have improved a lot,” Alabama junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said. “It’s been different because of the playing time they have been given, but I think they have done a tremendous job.”

Tagovailoa will be the player Harris, Robinson and the other Crimson Tide tailbacks will be trying to keep upright when he drops back to pass this fall -- that is, if they’re not leaving the backfield to run routes themselves. Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said he is “very impressed” with the receiving ability of all of Alabama’s running backs throughout the spring and preseason camp.

Still, pass protection is paramount for a running back if he wants to see the field for the Tide and has been since Nick Saban took over as head coach in 2007. But coming from offenses where they were either handed the football or looking to catch it out of the backfield, it can be a challenge.

“In high school, you’re just playing,” Harris said. “There’s really no blitz pickups or nothing. In college, it’s like there’s actual fronts that you have to see and there’s actual stunts they run, so maybe crossed dogs or corner cats, something like that. So, you have to have big eyes and see everything.”

Alabama running back Najee Harris (22) blocks for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at practice.

What’s the hardest aspect of pass protection for a running back?

“Defenses have different schemes, as far as this level of football,” Robinson said. “It’s just having to adjust to how defenses scheme and how ‘backers rotate and what you need to do and where you need to be aligned and what steps and footwork you need to take just to get in the perfect position to pick up the blitz. With the game moving faster, that was the only thing I had to adjust to -- just the blitzes come faster and picking up blitzes from both sides on the field now.”

And what makes a good pass protector in the backfield?

“Having a good base and knowing how to use your hands and get good position on the blocker, inside-out on him,” Robinson said. “Blitzers come down strong in the A and B gaps and if you’re back on your heels, you’re not going to be able to get good position on them. So you’ve got to meet them up in the line, use your hands, shoot your hands and have a good base in order to pick up a blitz.”

Last season, Alabama running backs caught 46 passes for 458 yards and three touchdowns. In Year 1 of Sarkisian calling plays, the backs could be used a little big more in the passing game, but that take would away targets to the Crimson Tide’s talented foursome of wide receivers.

With that personnel, it could be that we see Alabama use four-receiver sets at times, leaving the running back as the only non-offensive line protection for Tagovailoa. Having made blocking a priority this offseason, the backs seem to be ready for whatever Sarkisian chooses to dial up.

“All I have to really focus on is just doing what I have to do to protect Tua and whatever quarterback’s that in the game so that they can feed the ball to our receivers,” Robinson said. “And for me, as long as I run the ball hard, they’re probably going to stack the box, and that’ll open up more opportunities for all of our wide receivers.

“So, just focusing on what I need to do just as far as protecting the quarterback and keeping the run game balanced so, therefore, we can open up more opportunities for our receivers.”

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

*** Take advantage of 30% OFF our Annual VIP Pass for the first year ***