Najee Harris, the nation’s No. 1 recruit, and his mother, Tianna Hicks, hadn’t seen anything like what they saw this past weekend in Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl.
There were fans tailgaiting with televisions, satellite dishes, lawn chairs, people playing cornhole and throwing around the frisbee. There even was a step show in the parking lot. It was a new experience for Hicks and Harris as they hadn’t experienced a game environment like this in Northern California, which is where they live.
Hicks accompanied her son on multiple trips to Tuscaloosa before, but this one was different.
“This was the Iron Bowl and the energy was totally different from the other trips,” Hicks told SEC Country. “I’ve seen people tailgate at the Oakland Coliseum, but it was nothing like what I saw this past weekend. It was ridiculous.”
Tianna Hicks gave a big “Roll Tide Roll” when the interview wrapped up. (Chris Kirschner/SEC Country)
The 5-star running back has been committed to Alabama for over a year now, but there have been some concerns with his commitment level with the Tide because of his desire to take trips elsewhere.
He and his mother are scheduled to visit Michigan, which is Alabama’s biggest competition, on Dec. 10, right before the dead period goes into effect. That’s the only official visit he has set as of now. An official visit to the University of California may happen, too, but with there only being a few weeks left before the dead period starts, Hicks doesn’t know if that trip will happen.
The one advantage Alabama may have over Michigan when it comes to the official visit aspect of his recruitment is the fact that they got to see what it’s like in Tuscaloosa on a game day. They won’t have that experience in Ann Arbor in December.
“I’m not really sure how much he’s going to enjoy that trip because there’s no football that will be going on and he’s not into the whole recruiting thing,” Hicks said. “That’s the part I am concerned about. I don’t want him to get out there and just shut down because he doesn’t do the whole recruiting thing. I’m not sure how he’s going to react when we get out there.”
He did partake in the recruiting elements of the trip this past weekend, though. After the 30-12 victory over Auburn, Alabama running backs coach Burton Burns, outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi and a few Tide players all had dinner with Hicks and Harris. That was when Harris was in his element.
“We were at dinner and he and Coach Burns pulled out some paper and started drawing up plays on the dinner table,” Hicks said with a laugh. “That’s the kind of stuff Najee likes to do. We got to eat some steak and shrimp just like the players.”
Sunday morning at Nick Saban’s house, Harris got to take one of the coach’s golf carts for a joy ride with other recruits who were on official visits. Hicks spent the majority of her time with Saban’s wife, Terry, and Lupoi’s wife, Jordan.
“They’re really cool people,” Hicks said. “We rode around on a golf cart with Miss Terry. Just for them to open up their home was really nice. I was kind of honored that they did that for us.”
Hicks said she didn’t have questions for the Alabama staff heading into the visit. She’s done the academic tour three times now — each time with a tour guide named Jesse, who Hicks complimented for her thoroughness. Hicks actually stopped during the tour and remembered several things from the previous tours Jesse gave her.
Harris will major in business when he gets to Alabama with dreams of being heavily involved in community service.
The best thing Alabama coaches told her and her son this past weekend was Harris is going to have a great opportunity for key playing time as a freshman. Even with four talented running backs already at Alabama in Damien Harris, Josh Jacobs, B.J. Emmons and Bo Scarbrough, it’s possible a freshman could be the featured back in 2017.
“(The coaches) said there’s a great chance that he’ll be a starter,” Hicks said. “What freshman coming in wouldn’t want to hear those magical words that you can come in and start?”
Hicks said the best part of the game was the energy the fans brought to Bryant-Denny Stadium. She took several pictures of the stadium in the fourth quarter when fans took out their cellphones and lit up the stadium with their lights.
“We were out there “Roll Tide-ing” with everyone else,” Hicks said. “It was just so much fun. Najee was cheering along with the fans and we were dancing and singing along with the music.
“He’s not the kind of kid that can just sit and watch a whole game though because he needs to be in the game, so it was just hard for him to sit there. We walked around for a little bit during the game because he gets so excited and just wants to play.”
The Army All-American and his mother have discussed when a final decision will be made with his recruitment. That’s coming Jan. 7 when he plays in his final high school game. From the Army Bowl, he’ll start school almost immediately after at his school of choice.
“I think we’re going to do the whole official announcement at the Army Bowl because that’s what he wants to do,” Hicks said. “He wants to officially let everyone know where he’s going to go at the Army Bowl.
“I think his recruitment is still solid with Alabama though.”
All rankings are provided by the 247Sports composite unless otherwise noted.
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