Watch: Dolphins RB coach works on-field with Najee Harris

The Miami Dolphins’ golden ticket for the 2021 NFL Draft is already paying dividends. Miami’s coaches took the field yesterday from Mobile, Alabama to partake in the first of three days of coaching for this year’s Senior Bowl event. And, for one prospect in particular, the day’s events could help net millions of dollars come April.

While that can technically be said about plenty of players who can build their stock, the Miami Dolphins have an extra special interest in one Najee Harris — the Alabama running back who steamrolled through defenses this year and just so happens to be one of the best friends of Miami’s franchise quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. And Harris, it seems, has a mutual interest in Miami; otherwise he may have been more selective with his approach to this process. Harris, it was reported by NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks, is here partaking in this week’s events against the advice of his representation.

The Dolphins are noticing.

With practice yesterday, Miami head coach Brian Flores made sure to swing over and get a good look at Harris, working alongside the rest of the running backs on the National team roster. And Eric Studesville, one of the internal candidates for offensive coordinator, worked to put the group through their paces.

This. This is what the Senior Bowl is all about. And this is why the Senior Bowl is so important. Because come April, the Miami Dolphins will be able to draw back onto their hands on experiences with talents such as Harris and be able to recollect how quickly they processed information, how attentive they were to the details, how easily coached they were by the supporting staff the Dolphins have in place.

For Najee Harris, the chance to come to Mobile and compete, even if it was against the advice of his agent, was the same golden opportunity that the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner, DeVonta Smith, chose to strike and take advantage of. But Harris’ impression on the Dolphins goes a layer (or ten) deeper because Harris is actually strapping up the pads and he’s actually working through drills on the field with Studesville and the rest of the staff.

The Dolphins, along with Najee Harris, will be back in action on the field from Mobile this afternoon for Day 2 of Senior Bowl practices. And you can be sure that Brian Flores will be keeping a watchful eye on the Crimson Tide’s star — just as he was yesterday.

If the Dolphins like what they see enough, we could be talking about a top-20 selection for the Dolphins in April.