PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Najee Harris ran downfield Saturday afternoon, reached up and snagged a excessive cross in a easy one-handed seize.
It was a powerful catch to the few onlookers on the UPMC Rooney Sports activities Complicated on the second day of the Steelers’ rookie minicamp, one which stood out much more with Harris surrounded by younger draft picks and NFL hopefuls.
However it’s the sort of factor the 6-foot-2, 230-pound first-round choose has carried out for years.
An NFL participant for lower than a month, Harris dealt with the question about his one-handed catch like a professional, confident and assured in his talents not solely as a working again but additionally as a receiving weapon.
“I’ve all the time been catching the ball, man,” he stated with a sly snort. “I all the time try this, all the time try this. To not brag or nothing. What the heck. It wasn’t luck, I’ll inform you that. I’ll do it once more for you. It’s not one thing I work on. I’ve been doing it since, like, center faculty. I’ve received massive palms, man.”
Emphasizing his last level, Harris held up each palms to the digicam to verify everybody on the post-practice Zoom name received a very good view of his 10-inch mitts.
Harris was one in every of school soccer’s greatest working backs throughout his 4 seasons at Alabama. And the 2023 Doak Walker winner — and his palms — figures for use in a plethora of roles in coordinator Matt Canada’s offense because the Steelers try to overhaul the league’s worst dashing unit from a season in the past.
That received’t be something new to Harris, who has already discovered similarities in his school scheme and Canada’s plans after a short while with the playbook.
“There’s loads of issues which are related — it’s simply totally different terminology,” Harris stated. “However it’s the identical that means on the finish of the day. … Numerous issues that’s related is how they’re going to line me up out broad and stuff like that, how I did in school. Simply make the most of the working again within the passing sport out broad — out broad within the X place.”
Of Harris’ 76 receptions in his last three seasons at Alabama, he made eight lined up out broad. He averaged 8.6 yards per catch because the X receiver and scored one landing, coming as he lined up broad proper.
Harris was best as a receiver when he started within the backfield, recording 66 receptions for 666 yards and 10 touchdowns, in response to ESPN Stats & Data analysis.
A working again’s versatility is extremely valued in Canada’s offense, and Harris stated he believes with a little bit movie work, he’ll be greater than able to juggling the various duties within the scheme.
“I’m about to be utilized all over the place, so they need me to know a number of positions,” Harris stated. “It’s much more movie work than school. However I don’t have faculty anymore, so I’m glad I’m off that. I’ve no situation with studying, spending that a lot time within the movie room, as a result of it’s one thing I like. I’m prepared for the problem.
“It’s one thing they picked me for, and I’m glad to be in my place and have the chance to dam for Ben [Roethlisberger], to study new info and assist out as a lot as potential.”
Harris’ soccer acumen and fast absorption of the fabric stood out to teach Mike Tomlin even after just a few days.
“He’s a pointy man,” Tomlin stated. “He’s a soccer man. You may inform he’s enthusiastic about soccer. He can articulate the sport very nicely, so it’s rather a lot to be enthusiastic about.
“It’s extra noticeable just because there’s not lots of people to work with. He’s getting a chance to work one-on-one with Coach [Eddie] Faulkner on the working again place that gives loads of alternative for him to verbalize his data and issues of that nature.”
Harris’ fellow rookies had been additionally impressed.
“He’s a hell of a working again,” tight finish Pat Freiermuth stated. “Going by way of walk-through immediately, he makes superb cuts and he’s very good with the soccer.”
Harris impressed Tomlin and his teammates, however he is aware of there’s nonetheless a methods to go in his methodical strategy of acclimating to the NFL.
“I’ve to start out at the 1st step for all of the fundamentals,” Harris stated. “I’ve to relearn — extra explosive footwork, have higher eyes, catching the ball higher. Simply attempt to be extra of an explosive participant, as a result of the competitors degree distinction between school and the NFL, it’s two totally different locations.
“Each time you hit a brand new pinnacle in life, or a brand new step, for me, I wish to begin from the 1st step and make my means up. I’m going to be enjoying in opposition to loads of first-rounders, loads of franchise gamers, All-Professional, HOF. It’s all about being a sponge and ranging from the 1st step.”
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