Najee Harris, back in Alabama, put on a record performance during a 52-46 victory over Florida on Saturday night in the SEC championship game in Atlanta.
Not only did Harris set a record for the SEC championship game with five touchdowns, but he set a conference record for career touchdowns by a 53-yard touchdown.
Closer to home, Harris broke Alabama’s career record in terms of landing speed and yards.
Harris, who called it “an honor” to set all these new standards, finished the night with a total of 248 meters. He was dynamic in the passing game, carrying in five throws for 67 yards, including touchdown games of 23, 17 and 7 yards in Alabama’s first blitz. The shortest of those scores could have been the best, as Harris sent a potential attacker who collapsed on the grass with a blinding move.
“I caught the ball from birth,” he said. ” People don’t expect it because of the name back, but I can catch it. ”
But it wasn’t just Harris who rewrote the history of Alabama football during his seventh victory over the Gators.
DeVonta Smith broke her own record of receptions in a single game of 15 and became the school’s all-time leader in receiving courts, beating Amari Cooper.
Smith walked over 180 yards and added touchdowns to his school record (39).
Mac Jones, who finished with 418 yards and five touchdowns, set an SEC championship record in finals with 43.
Jones and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask did nothing to hurt their position as two of Heisman Trophy’s top contenders. Neither did Smith, Crimson Tide’s other biggest hope for the award.
After Saturday night’s show, Harris should be in the mix as well.
“I’m not worried about that,” he said. “The two guys I’ve reached now are pretty good.”
In addition to catching all those passes, Smith came away with a key recovery after Florida’s Trey Dean took a throw from Jones, snatching the ball from the desired receiver, only to cough it into a brutal, hit on a portion of Alabama’s John Metchie. Jones threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Smith in the next play.
Alabama coach Nick Saban said the theme of the night was “I found a way to win.”
After jumping to an early lead, Florida kicked back, making it a one-possession game with less than a minute left.
In the end, the Alabama crime, led by Harris and Smith, was too great for the Gators to overcome.
“I have to give myself a lot of credit offense,” Saban said. “They answered the bell quite consistently in the game. Over 600 meters. Smitty had 15 catches. Najee scored five touchdowns, had 178 meters in a hurry, caught five passes. I mean, these guys were pretty phenomenal all year round and they certainly delivered tonight when I needed them. “
The Associated Press contributed to this report.